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when I found out what candles were made of and the possible issues linked to them. I do not want to be near them "Paraffin is a waxy ingredient derived from pe

when I found out what candles were made of and the possible issues linked to them. I do not want to be near them "Paraffin is a waxy ingredient derived from petroleum. Candles made from the substance are suspected to give off toxic chemicals, like toluene and benzene. [1] Toluene and benzene are known to be carcinogens (cancer causing agents). Toluene specifically induces DNA strand break downs which affect the central nervous system." http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2016/ph240/lee-m2/ http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2016/ph240/lee-m2/

schwartzworld 5y ago
Interesting study. It makes sense since pretty much all other popular forms of burning things are linked with cancerous substances. I wonder if beeswax candles are less carcinogenic.
- masklinn 5y ago
  > It makes sense since pretty much all other popular forms of burning things are linked with cancerous substances. Though note that the 2009 study mentioned was (AFAIK) not published in any peer-reviewed journal, and have provided no review for data. A more recent study[0] found that > For the un- scented candles it can be determined that the fuels palm, paraffin, soy and stearin behave very similarly in terms of emissions (see Tables 4 and 5). No individual wax was shown to have a consistently better emission profile than the others. It did not test for beeswax, but broadly speaking the hierarchical cluster analysis of fuel/fragrance shows much stronger clustering by fragrance than by fuel. There is little reason to think that beeswax would differ significantly. Though it should be noted that the study was financed by candlemaking associations, and advised by both those and fragrance houses. Either way sounds to me like burning stuff is bad, no matter what you burn, burnning different shit is mostly just putting (usually kooky) lipstick on a pig. [0] https://candles.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Measurement-and-evaluation-of-gaseous-and-particulate-emissions-from-burning-scented-and-unscented-candles-2021.pdf https://candles.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Measurement-a...
germinalphrase 5y ago
I would love more information on cleaner burning alternatives if anyone has the knowledge handy. I have a family member who insists on burning candles, but I’ve always had concerns about air quality impacts.
- masklinn 5y ago
  > I would love more information on cleaner burning alternatives if anyone has the knowledge handy. Hydrogen. Good luck making candles out of it though. That's about it I expect. If you're burning carbon-based fuels in air, you're getting complex carbon-based incomplete combustion byproducts, and the scenting compounds will only make things worse. The good news though, is unless they're really going way overboard with the amount of candles it's almost certainly innocuous.
marcosdumay 5y ago
Is that an exercise so students learn to question papers? It does look like it. Those references have absolutely nothing linking candles to cancer, and it's not an obvious link in any way because while fires are linked, candles are very small.
zoomablemind 5y ago
Just as with any other household chemicals (bleach, detergent, cleaners, cooking gas, glues, etc.) - use in well-ventilated environment. Especially, bleach fumes can easily burn the membranes in the nose and the eye surface.

schwartzworld 5y ago

Interesting study. It makes sense since pretty much all other popular forms of burning things are linked with cancerous substances. I wonder if beeswax candles are less carcinogenic.

masklinn 5y ago
> It makes sense since pretty much all other popular forms of burning things are linked with cancerous substances. Though note that the 2009 study mentioned was (AFAIK) not published in any peer-reviewed journal, and have provided no review for data. A more recent study[0] found that > For the un- scented candles it can be determined that the fuels palm, paraffin, soy and stearin behave very similarly in terms of emissions (see Tables 4 and 5). No individual wax was shown to have a consistently better emission profile than the others. It did not test for beeswax, but broadly speaking the hierarchical cluster analysis of fuel/fragrance shows much stronger clustering by fragrance than by fuel. There is little reason to think that beeswax would differ significantly. Though it should be noted that the study was financed by candlemaking associations, and advised by both those and fragrance houses. Either way sounds to me like burning stuff is bad, no matter what you burn, burnning different shit is mostly just putting (usually kooky) lipstick on a pig. [0] https://candles.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Measurement-and-evaluation-of-gaseous-and-particulate-emissions-from-burning-scented-and-unscented-candles-2021.pdf https://candles.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Measurement-a...

germinalphrase 5y ago

I would love more information on cleaner burning alternatives if anyone has the knowledge handy. I have a family member who insists on burning candles, but I’ve always had concerns about air quality impacts.

masklinn 5y ago
> I would love more information on cleaner burning alternatives if anyone has the knowledge handy. Hydrogen. Good luck making candles out of it though. That's about it I expect. If you're burning carbon-based fuels in air, you're getting complex carbon-based incomplete combustion byproducts, and the scenting compounds will only make things worse. The good news though, is unless they're really going way overboard with the amount of candles it's almost certainly innocuous.

marcosdumay 5y ago

Is that an exercise so students learn to question papers? It does look like it. Those references have absolutely nothing linking candles to cancer, and it's not an obvious link in any way because while fires are linked, candles are very small.

zoomablemind 5y ago

Just as with any other household chemicals (bleach, detergent, cleaners, cooking gas, glues, etc.) - use in well-ventilated environment. Especially, bleach fumes can easily burn the membranes in the nose and the eye surface.