5 Little or No Cost Changes to Reduce Toxins in your home - Part 5
Swap your candles
The good news is = I’m not saying ditch ALL candles
The bad news is = I’m saying you probably need to ditch YOUR candles
Here’s why:
Have you ever tried to find the ingredients in your candles?
Go run and do that now and let me know what you find :)
Generally, you’re not going to find any ingredients. OR they will share with you something similar to this
“We use a mix of soy and BLANK oil wax, lead free wicks, we don’t use any dangerous chemicals and they are cruelty free”
Okey doke. Well. That tells me absolutely nothing. I am FAR more concerned about what is actually IN your products, than what is not.
So what are the risks we typically find in the Target candle aisle or candle makers who don’t share their ingredients?
Risk 1 - Hormone Disruption
“scented candle products should act as potent sources of VOC emission.” This study showed VOC emissions whether candles were lit or not! One of the highest emissions from lit candles was formaldehyde in this study! (Go check part 1 and 2 of this series to see impact of VOC emissions on indoor air)
Most VOC’s are known as endocrine (hormone) disrupting compounds.
Even very very low doses of these compounds are shown to increase the risk of adverse health effects including cancers, neurodevelopment and neurodegenerative diseases, weight disorders, asthma and immune disorders.
Risk 2 - Reproductive Harm
There are many ingredients found in the fragrance of candles that are show to reduce quality of sperm and reducing fertility in both men and women. One of the greatest contributors to infertility from candles are the presence of phthalates. These are most often going to be found in the wax and undisclosed “fragrance” in candles.
If you can smell the candle, and phthalates are present in its ingredients, you are inhaling these chemicals = these risks, with every breath
Phthalates are linked to:
● Early onset puberty (increases risks of cancers)
● Breast cancer
● Birth defects in boys
● Thyroid disorders
● Weight gain
● Insulin resistance
● Diabetes
● Lowered testosterone
● Allergies
● Asthma
● Developmental & behavioral disorders, including autism
Risk 3 - Cancer Causing
If you’re burning a paraffin/ paraffin blend wax, it releases the same toxins found in diesel fuel fumes - into your indoor air. Additionally, paraffin has high concerns of PAH contamination. A study found that those with high levels of PAH’s in their system had a 50% greater risk of breast cancer
So how do we shop for candles if they have these risks???
Tip 1 - avoid any candle that does not share full fragrance ingredients. If no ingredients are found, you can email the company to ask. Click here for my script and guide when asking companies what makes up their fragrance.
Tip 2 - only purchase wood or 100% cotton wicks
Tip 3 - purchase candles made of pure beeswax
Here are my personal favorite, clean candle brands!
Fontana Candles - Use Code ASHLEY15 for 15% off
Sources:
*1 https://news.berkeley.edu/2016/03/07/cosmetics-chemicals/
Pg. 3 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6761448/
https://echa.europa.eu/substance-information/-/substanceinfo/100.004.986
https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/1_2-Benzisothiazol-3_2H_-one
https://www.safecosmetics.org/chemicals/fragrance/
https://www.safecosmetics.org/chemicals/ethoxylated-ingredients/
https://www.safecosmetics.org/chemicals/phenoxyethanol/
https://www.safecosmetics.org/chemicals/triclosan/
https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/sya-bpa/index.cfm
https://www.safecosmetics.org/chemicals/parabens/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25588193/#affiliation-1
https://www.safecosmetics.org/chemicals/fragrance/#ref82
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11771925/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29872334/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26592587/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2677823/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22991565/
* The information offered by me is for general educational and informational purposes only. None of this information is a substitute or replacement for professional or medical advice
Please note that the products may contain affiliate links to products or services. I may receive a commission for any purchases made through these links. However, this does not affect the recommendations or advice provided. Any reviews or recommendations of products or services are done in good faith based on my experience, their relevance to the needs, and my belief in their value and alignment with my values. I am not responsible for any dissatisfaction with third-party products or services, and may not be held liable for any injuries or damages that occur as a result of their use.
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