"Environmentally Friendly Candles Available"

If you are like many people, you probably enjoy burning candles. They create a nice mood and make your house smell wonderful. But do you know what the main ingredient in most candles is and the health problems it can cause?

Paraffin wax is made from petroleum and produces carcinogens and soot when burned. In fact, one air quality researcher stated that the soot from a paraffin candle contains many of the same toxins produced by burning diesel fuel. Some byproducts are benzene, acetone, xylene, formaldehyde, and acetaldehyde. Even many of the seemingly healthy, aromatherapy candles sold today can do more harm than good. Burning paraffin wax can also set off various allergies and the American Lung Association has warned consumers of unhealthy indoor air quality from burning paraffin candles.

Soy candles offer a cleaner and healthier alternative, yet many people aren’t even aware that they exist. Made from soybeans, they come in as many “flavors” as conventional candles.

According to several manufacturers, soy candles last 50% longer than petroleum-based paraffin candles. They also burn slower and cooler (helping to better distribute fragrance), are non-toxic, less likely to trigger allergies, and produce approximately 90% less soot than paraffin candles. And how many of us have tried to clean up paraffin wax off the furniture or carpet? One added bonus is that spills clean up with hot soapy water. These factors tend to make them more animal and child-friendly than traditional candles.
Soy wax should also be a favorite of environmentally conscious consumers since it isn’t made from petroleum products, like paraffin candles. The soy in candles is made from American-grown soybeans, it's biodegradable, a renewable resource, and from a global point of view, it "supports the U.S. economy instead of foreign oil conglomerates." An estimate claims that if soybean candles represented just 10% of the existing candle market, it would require an additional 55 million pounds of “American Grown” soybean oil.

If a candle doesn't explicitly state it is soy on the label, it is probably a paraffin candle. Soy candles appear more opaque with a whitish film. There are a number of businesses that sell these candles on the web, though I have so far been unable to locate any retail stores that carry them in Ventura County. I found ten pages worth on the Internet just by entering “soy candles”. Ask your favorite health food store or candle/gift shop if they would be interested in carrying them.

So if you want that wonderful candle ambiance but want to reduce your health risks and do the right thing environmentally, give soy candles a try.

"Soybean Candles Get Stars Fired Up"

By Kelly Carter for USA Today 8/20/2002

"I have started using soy candles because they burn clean and last much longer," says Mandy Moore.  

Some candles are made from animal fat.  Vegan Alicia Silverstone hadn’t burned a candle in six years until discovering...soybean wax candles. Sharon Stone, Charlize Theron, Will & Jada Pinkett Smith and Renee Zellweger also like them." 

Energy Times - 10/2002

"Cleaner Candles"

"Light the way to a cleaner future with soot and lead-free candles, healthy alternatives to paraffin candles.  A byproduct in the petroleum refining chain, paraffin emits high levels of toxic chemicals that include lead benzene and acetone.  Paraffin candles pollute indoor air and lungs, as does the lead present in many wicks."

EPA Report: Candles & Incense

Note: The following is from the EPA Report "Candles and Incense As Potential Sources of Indoor Air Pollution: Market Analysis And Literature Review, " dated Jan. 2001. Prepared by National Risk Management, Research Laboratory.

"Black Soot Deposition (BSD) is also referred to as ghosting, carbon tracking, carbon tracing, and dirty house syndrome. Complaints of BSD have risen significantly since 1992 (Krause, 1999).

Black soot is the product of the incomplete combustion of carbon-containing fuels. Complete combustion would result in a blue flame, and would produce negligible amounts of soot and carbon monoxide. Until recently, the source for the black soot in homes was unknown.

Through interviews and recent experiments, it is now believed that frequent candle burning is one of the sources of black soot. The amount of soot produced can vary greatly from candle to candle.

One type of candle can produce as much as 100 times more soot than another type."

Purdue News - 11/1996

"Are Scented Candles Damaging Your Home?"

www.Insure.com

The use of candles dates back to prehistoric times. They've been used for lighting, heating, and decoration. Candles might also be causing irreparable damage to your home — and your insurance might not cover it.

Candle soot

Many of the popular scented candles today are made by mixing oils into the candle wax. The more oil in a candle, the stronger the scent.  More oil also means a higher potential for soot, which can eventually coat your carpets, drapes, and furniture.

After the soot settles, cleaning it off your walls, carpet, couch, and appliances can become impossible. The electrically charged bond is too strong for household cleaners to break. You have little choice but to replace the soiled surfaces or buy new items.

Ron Bailey, engineer and owner of Bailey Engineering in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, has tested candles. One of Bailey's tests involved using a model home as the proving ground. He burned four candles for 15 hours. Soot deposited on the walls, appliances, and drapes.

Bailey says he’s seen homes, where candle soot has caused tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage. "It's eye-opening. They had to replace the carpets and clean up and repaint the walls," he says.

One homeowner in Texas faced nearly $200,000 in damages and replacement costs because of candle soot. The soot particles infested her heating and cooling ductwork, which had to be replaced.  Much of her furniture was covered by candle soot.

Frank Vigil, a building specialist with the Applied Building Science Team at North Carolina State University, says the problems from candle soot are becoming more and more evident. Vigil has investigated several cases, including one in which he was hired by State Farm. "There was quite substantial property damage [in that case], over $10,000," he says.

Vigil says he knows of many claims made against insurance companies as a result of soot from candles. "This is becoming a big issue, near epidemic in proportions," he says.

Home insurance might not pay

Insurance companies have not addressed candle soot specifically in homeowner's policy language, and the industry's stance on the issue is ambiguous.

"There's a potential for coverage, but like every other claim, it will be investigated on its own merits," says Phil Supple, a spokesman for State Farm. "We would look particularly closely at the 'named peril provision' in the policy." That's the provision spelling out what is and what is not covered. In addition, home insurance policies have what's called a "sudden and accidental occurrence" provision, which separates harmful events that happen suddenly from those that develop over time.

Candle makers warn customers about soot

Candle-Lite Incorporated, based in Leesburg, Ohio, does provide specific warnings on its candles about soot. Some of its warning labels read, "For best burning performance and to reduce soot emissions, trim wick to ¼ inch, and do not burn candle near a draft."

Most labels don't say why consumers should trim the candle's wick before lighting. "The labels are to ensure the candles burn evenly," says Maryanne McDermott, executive vice president of the National Candle Association, a group that provides guidelines for the industry. McDermott says an even-burning candle won't produce soot.

"There could be deposits that certainly would be noticeable," says Jim Becker, an engineer for American Greetings' candle unit. "I've had experiences in my home in which I've burned a candle and there was a lot of smoke that was generated. I'm sure a very bad situation could arise."

McDermott points out, "Candles have been used for hundreds of years without problems." Of course, the tremendous popularity of aromatherapy and scented candles presents problems that no one has dealt with before. McDermott also says burning candles in drafty places — which can create soot — is a "dumb thing to do. You can see [the uneven burning]. I think it's common sense."

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