Sunday, July 11, 2004

Candle Risks?

Music: XM Radio: The Torch
Mood: Puzzled

M started a new part-time job last week as an assistant manger at our local Yankee Candle store. My favorite scent of theirs is Clean Cotton. Anyways, she came home last night and the fragrances of the candles were radiating off of her. So much so that my mind got to wondering if there are any risks in breathing in whatever the candles release. I did some research and learned a lot about candles. Some of the sites say, quality candles are worth the extra money. Buying a candle from a company that uses quality waxes, wicks & fragrances with clean burning technology is important. But they didn't talk much about the type of wax they use which for most is paraffin. But those that sold beeswax candles have plenty to say. After reading about paraffinoma and the toxins that candles released, I thought I confirmed my original suspicions. Or is this really that big of a deal? Are the beeswax companies just trying to scare us into purchasing their products? I decided to write Yankee Candle an email to get their response on what the beeswax sites say. I'll let you know when they get back with me.

Another good article

The candle industry is huge! It looks like some people take their candle shopping pretty seriously.

Labels: kyla

2 Comments:

munKy said...: Here is their response----- Original Message -----
From: "Yankee Catalog Service" sales@yankeecandle.com
To: jlluptown@hotmail.com
Sent: Monday, July 12, 2004 7:51 AM
Subject: Re: paraffin

Dear Mr. Lindsey,

Thank you for being a valued guest with Yankee Candle and for taking the time to write to us with your concerns.

Recent media and certain web sites have conveyed misleading and erroneous claims intended to frighten consumers of candles. To the best of the NCA's knowledge, proper use of candles does not pose a health hazard. Candles have been use safely for hundreds of years. In fact a recent study by Germany's prestigious Bayreuth Institute of Environmental Research indicated that emissions from candles are not harmful. In addition, Dr. Eric Wigg, a renowned petroleum wax consultant who has spent more than 30 years studying emissions, stated he is aware of "no information which would suggest candles, if used properly, are anything but safe."

Most candles are made with paraffin wax. Both paraffin wax and beeswax candles burn cleanly. Fragrance manufactures are heavily regulated and the candle fragrances they supply are similar to those used safely in soaps and cosmetics. Wax used for candles is generally the same as that which is used in some foods. Both the wax and the fragrance are subjected to rigorous testing by the manufacturer. In short there is simply no evidence indicating that these materials are anything but safe.

I hope this information proves to be helpful for you. If you have any further questions or concerns please feel free to contact us.

Sincerely,

Amy-Lee S

Yankee Candle Customer Service
The Yankee Candle Company, Inc.; 10:25 PM
FPIN said...: I went and read the study done that Yankee candle refers to. The study is on unscented candles which can not be used to determine the safety of scented candles. The study did not find much difference in the emissions from the different types of waxes. Fragrance is a respiratory irritant and one of the most commonly cited triggers for asthma. Those with allergies, rhinitis, and sinus problems are also especially susceptible to respiratory irritants. Fragrance is known to cause skin allergies.

Imagine your daughter's life is she becomes seriously allergic to a fragrance chemical. Fragrance is everywhere. It is almost unavoidable.

I developed asthma after exposure to fragrance in a cleaner. The levels in the cleaner was much less that what one would be exposed to in a factory making scented candles. I would be concerned about the safety of any one working in a candle factory. Are the workers provided with any type of respiratory protection?

For the most part fragrance chemicals have not been evaluated for their effects on the respiratory system, it is not part of routine evaluate by the fragrance industry. No matter what Yankee candle tells you, fragrance is one of the least regulated products. If you do not believe me, do a little research. Browse the FDA site and see what regulation is required for fragrance. Visit the CPSC site and inquire on the regulation of fragrance in products.

If you want to know more about concerns related to fragrance, visit www.fpinva.org

Betty Bridges, RN
Fragranced Products Information Network
http://www.fpinva.org; 4:53 PM