There are certain products that we may consider to be common household items and we may even consider them to be a necessity. For example, scented candles are found in many homes and they help people to relax or to get rid of strong odors that may be somewhat unpleasant. Unfortunately, scented candles can also carry a danger that most people are unaware of.
This recently became obvious when research showed that scented candles could be potentially harmful. According to Alastair Lewis, a professor at the National Center for Atmospheric Science at the University of York, one of the common ingredients in scented candles that gives them their scent can mutate into formaldehyde. This turns into a poisonous gas when the candle is burned!
The chemical responsible for the candle being poisonous is limonene. It is what is included in the candle to produce the scent of citrus. What many people don’t realize is that limonene is considered to be completely safe when it is in an unaltered state. In fact, it is used in many cleaning supplies to give them a fresh scent and it is even used to flavor food.
When it is burning, however, there is a 50/50 chance of mutation into gaseous formaldehyde. The Health Protection Agency stated that formaldehyde is listed as a possible carcinogen. Since our homes tend to be well insulated, air exchange is limited so the formaldehyde tends to linger for an extended amount of time. This can begin to damage people who live in the household.
If you are going to use scented candles, it is recommended that you open a door or window to allow proper air exchange in the household. Doing so will allow the formaldehyde to escape. It is also beneficial to limit your use of scented candles in the first place.