Paraffin Candle Hazards

• Candlelight is a beautiful thing, but it can also be dangerous. Gary Yeowell/Photodisc/Getty Images

  Whether setting the stage for a romantic candlelit dinner or acting as mood lighting creating a spooky, sexy or intimate atmosphere, candlelight is beautiful, heartwarming and fascinating to watch. However, it can also be a dangerous choice. The toxins and soot emitted are unhealthy to breathe, and the production of paraffin candles is based on a nonrenewable resource. The good news is that there are more environmentally friendly choices to choose from in the form of soy, vegetable and beeswax candles.

Toxins and Carcinogens

• If you wouldn't let a person smoke a cigarette in your home, why would you burn similar chemicals in a candle? smoke from a cigarette image by Sergey Kharitonov from Fotolia.com

  When burned, paraffin candles emit 11 known toxins, two of which are the carcinogens benzene and toluene. Other toxins burned off include phthalates, lead, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and acrolein. In fact, paraffin emissions are similar to those produced by burning diesel fuel.

Soot

• Soot is not only aesthetically unappealing, but it is also unhealthy to breathe. scoop of soot image by bright from Fotolia.com

  Because paraffin candles are made from a carbon-based fuel, black soot is produced when they are burned. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency points out that airborne soot can be inhaled, allowing particles to infiltrate the deepest parts of the lungs and the lower respiratory tract. According to the EPA, sooting can be minimized by keeping wicks short, avoiding drafts and burning unscented candles, as scented candles tend to give off more soot. Soy, vegetable and beeswax candles also tend to burn off less soot than paraffin.

Nonrenewable Resource

• Not only is the burning of fossil fuels bad for the environment, but it's also an unsustainable practice that will come to an end one way or another when the planet runs out of oil. Derick image by zinetoon from Fotolia.com

  Paraffin candles are saturated hydrocarbons that solidify at room temperature. They are produced from crude oil, a nonrenewable resource. Relying on petroleum-based sources increases American dependence on foreign oil. On the other hand, soy, vegetable and beeswax candles come from renewable resources.

Burns and Fire

• The relatively small flame of a candle can become a raging inferno in mere moments if left unattended. fire image by Grzegorz Kwolek from Fotolia.com

  Although a hazard not confined to paraffin alone, an article about candle hazards would be remiss not to point out the danger of burns and fires. Paraffin candles have a higher melting point and burn hotter and faster than soy or vegetable candles, but all candles do pose the threat of a burn or fire if left precariously positioned or unattended.