Dr. Jyota Matta. Pulmonologist at the Jersey City Medical Center told Verywell that individuals can be sensitive to fragrance. Those individuals may experience shortness of breath, headaches and coughing. “Fall fragrances is considered to be the harshest when compared with delicate floral fragrances, and I have come across a few who are sensitive to pumpkin spice and It has nothing to do with the toxicity of the candle burning but It has something to do with the fragrance of that candle.
According to an article, Candles do release some chemicals, but most individuals will not have issues with the amount which is released. And there are candle options, including natural wax candles or not burning them for more than four hours.
Dr. Kelly Johnson-Arbor, a medical toxicology physician told very well that, generally these emissions occur in small quantities which do not exceed established guidelines for indoor air quality and are therefore unlikely to cause harmful effects for most individuals.
According to Everyday Health, the problem with candle burning, apart from fragrance sensitivity, is volatile organic compounds — often called simply VOCs. They can be found in many household items, paints, cleaning products, fuels and humans are regularly exposed to them.
A study in the journal Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology found that, under normal conditions of use, scented candles do not pose known health risk to the buyer.
The trick is not burning candles all the time or for very long periods. And making sure that the area is well-ventilated. However, Dr. Purvi Parikh, an allergist and immunologist with Allergy & Asthma Network told Verywell that scented candles can cause allergic reactions, asthma attacks, flares in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or other breathing problems.
Parikh recommends that older adults and individuals with heart disease, cancer, allergies, asthma or who are immunocompromised should avoid burning scented candles. Pets can also be allergic to the scents.
Today.com mentions that there’s always a fire danger with candles. It cites the National Fire Protection Association says that, in United States, there are about 20 home candles which fires daily.
Pamela Dalton, a scientist at the Monell Chemical Senses Center said that, the size of the room, the number of candles burning and ventilation all matter and if you’re sitting in a closet with 12 candles burning around you, then you might be able to create an atmosphere which could have some impact.
Dalton also added that, the science just isn’t there to say that one wax is worse or better than another. As for worries that candle wicks contain lead, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said that’s no longer the case and hasn’t been for close to a half-century.
