Study: Candle-lit dinners add to pollution

The Washington Times ^ | August 19, 2009 | Jennifer Harper

[kingattax]

Holy smokes. Grab the fire hose. Somebody notify Al Gore and maybe Ralph Nader. Candle-lit dinners -- with the flickering flames, those delicate glows -- are an unrecognized source of indoor air pollution. Really. The American Chemical Society announced Wednesday that "emission products of petroleum-based candles in nonventilated enclosed areas" are potential health hazards. Paraffin wax candles produce evocative ambience -- and known human carcinogens, too.

"An occasional paraffin candle and its emissions will not likely affect you. But lighting many paraffin candles every day for years or lighting them frequently in an un-ventilated bathroom around a tub, for example, may cause problems," said Ruhullah Massoudi, a chemistry professor at South Carolina State University who analyzed the airborne byproducts of burning candles.

He also suggested that some people who suffer from an indoor allergies or respiratory irritations might in fact be reacting to air pollutants from burning candles. Candles made from beeswax or soy, though more pricey, are "apparently are healthier," Mr. Massoudi adds. He presented his findings during the society's annual meeting in Washington.

[kingattax]

the green police are at it again. is there anything these zombies will leave alone ?

[Army Air Corps]

Oy veh.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Remind me to grab the fire extinguisher the next time the priest lights off some incense at Mass......

[Army Air Corps]

PJ O’Rourke has a name for folks like this: Fun Suckers.

They seek to suck the fun out of everything.

[Army Air Corps]

That’ll go over like a fart in church...

[Westlander]

Well Ruhu, it’s back to K-1 and my Embury’s.

[headstamp 2]

I will say burning scented candles constantly will make a real mess out of the wall/ceiling corner area of a room. The soot deposits can be unbelievable. You have to be breathing that in over time. To say nothing of the potential fire hazard.

I’ve seen places where people will have literally 12-20 candles burning throughout the house.

[max americana]

So those candles at my church are impacting globull warming? Amen!!

[1_Rain_Drop]

People must not be buying enough PC light bulbs.

Candles aren't the problem, it's the matches and lighters. ;)

No, wait! People are the problem because they use candles. Eliminate people and the problem is solved! wax and trade!

[50cal Smokepole]

Sheesh. About the only bad thing about candles I know of is that they can mess up high efficiency furnaces. HVAC tech told me that they can gum up the exchanger or burner, or some such.

[MarMema]

Beeswax is yummy and healthy. I always use it only.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Our neighbors house burned down when their daughter left a candle unattended.

[kingattax]

Remind me to grab the fire extinguisher the next time the priest lights off some incense at Mass......

now thats really funny..lol

[Army Air Corps]

Nah, use ObamaCare to make candles from the elderly. Soylent Candles.

[Rastus]

PJ O’Rourke has a name for folks like this: Fun Suckers.

At first, I thought that was to be taken like Puck Felosi or Buck Farack.

[cranked]

Won’t be long before some GW nut does a study that asserts that Prometheus screwed everything up when he gave Man fire. /s

[ari-freedom]

[BluesDuke]

I now have a further excuse to continue the candlelight dinners with and for the lady in my life.

[kingattax]

good for you

[smokingfrog]

some candles are made with wicks that have either lead or lead cores that emit potentially dangerous levels of lead into the air
(made in China)