Candles are a popular way to add warmth and beauty to the home decor. They come in all shapes and sizes, as well as beautiful colors and scents. The festive atmosphere that they bring give you no warning that there is more going on than meets the eye. They can also add things that are not healthy and they can be a hazard to your health. Don't be in the dark as to what is going on when you light your candle.



Depending on how the candle is made, there are scented candles that can emit toxins into the air inside your home including mercury and lead. When a wick containing lead is burned, it can possibly emit some toxic chemicals like benzene and acetone. These toxins, if inhaled, are harmful to your body through your central nervous system, as well as your blood systems and cardiovascular systems. Children and seniors can be particularly affected.

Metallic cores are not found in all candles but mostly with candles that need to burn for a longer period of time. Ceremonial candles may contain wicks with metallic cores, bringing rigidity and providing a burn rate that is slower. Scented candles also have a need to burn slower and may be found to have wicks with metallic cores. These potential health hazards have the ability to make the air inside your home as dangerous as or even more dangerous than the air outside your home and they are not only harmful to humans, but to pets as well. It has been reported by The American Lung Association that lead particles may be released by some candles, being able to float in the air, landing on the floor or areas where they may be ingested by your pet.

The soot that rises from the candle can be seen readily in most cases. Depending on the type of candle, the amount of soot produced can vary. It is caused by incomplete burning of fuels containing carbon. Candle soot can be deposited on any area in your home causing it to become blackened. These deposits of soot lead to stained carpets, and particles that are electrically charged to plastic surfaces such as your freezer or refrigerator. There is more likelihood of soot coming from larger candles as well as from candles containing large amounts of scent.

Certain precautions can be taken to reduce the risk involved: you can burn only beeswax candles or those that you are certain are pollution-free; be sure that the wick does not have a metal core; you can also trim the wick to a quarter of an inch. Be aware that the more fragrance that is found in the candle, the more soot is created. Of course if you learn how to make your own candles, you can be sure of the ingredients that go into them, ensuring that the environment in your home is safe.