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IMPACT OF USING CANDLES |
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by Neha Swaminathan | 18-10-2014 01:31
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I have seen candles burned in the candle-lit dinner tables of hotels, lighting wax candles during festive occasions etc. My grandma and my mother however use lamps with a cotton wick and using a vegetable seed based oil only. Out of curiosity, I researched through the impact of burning wax in candles. The Egyptians made candles from beeswax, as long as 5,000 years ago which was eco-friendly. But the modern day candles made of paraffin wax are not only damaging to the environment but can also be carcinogenic. Most cheap candles you buy at the supermarket are made from paraffin wax, which is a byproduct of oil refining. Paraffin wax consists of alkane hydrocarbons and melts between 47 Celsius and 65 Celsius. It is derived from light lubricating oil distillates. When burned, the fumes contain a number of carcinogens like Acetaldehyde, Benzene, Formaldehyde, Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons and Toulene. By using paraffin based candles, we are helping the environmentally destructive oil industry and further poisoning our air. The synthetic chemicals that are used in scented candles can also emit damaging emissions. The ideal solution is to buy 100 percent beeswax candles with cotton wicks. Beeswax can cost six times the price of paraffin, so many candle manufacturers blend paraffin with their beeswax to cut costs. Be sure your candles say 100 percent beeswax on the label. Or buy candles made fully from vegetable-based waxes. To reduce soot, trim wicks. Soy wax is also good option, provided the soy beans are grown sustainably. Soy candles work best in glass holders due to their low melting point, which will make them to deform easily in hotter environments. |
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10 Comments
Thank you for sharing, Neha!
Posted 29-11-2014 23:39
Well reported Neha, Paraffin wax is comparable with plastic. Both are widely used, cheap & have deadly affects on environment.
As far as possible sustainable options must be explored & Paraffin wax be banned like plastic.
Posted 22-10-2014 16:10
@Lesedi Oh, then we can say candle actually affects the health of people in Zimbabwe. Then, we should carefully look at the rate of increased respiratory diseases caused by burning paraffin wax at home.
Posted 20-10-2014 11:15
Thank you for the good information and useful alternatives, Neha :)
Posted 20-10-2014 11:13
Thanks for the new information. If we are using can del for luxury than 100% bee wax candle should be used.
Thank you Neha for beautiful explanation of effect of using candle.
Posted 20-10-2014 04:53
Great findings made Neha. We receive power cuts on a regular basis in my country and more than 80% of Zimbabweans are consumers of candles as a source of lighting. And I can say that all these candles are made from paraffin wax.
Bee wax and soy wax is the way to go.
Posted 19-10-2014 11:09
New and useful info shared Neha...thx for that...
Posted 19-10-2014 02:17
WOW! Very informative report , Neha. Would definitely keep in mind . Never really knew that modern day candles are made of paraffin wax. Thanks for sharing. Right timing for this report as Diwali is approaching-time to buy candles.
Posted 18-10-2014 05:09
Thanks for informative article about candles Neha.Never really thought about their impact to that extent.
Posted 18-10-2014 03:10
Thanks for sharing Neha.
Got to know a lot about candles and their impact on environment.
Posted 18-10-2014 02:03