Scented candles can release potentially harmful particles in indoor air: Study

Aroma compounds released from the scented wax melts can react with ozone in indoor air to form potentially toxic particles researchers have warnedThe study challenges the perception that scented wax melts are a safer alternative to combustionbased candlesPrevious research has shown that scented wax melts emit more airborne scent compounds than traditional candlesThe direct heating of the wax maximises its surface area thereby releasing more fragrance ndash such as volatile organic compounds VOCs made of hydrocarbons ndash into the air according to the study published in the ACSrsquo Environmental Science ampamp Technology LettersResearchers know that these chemicals can react with other compounds in the air to form nanometerwide particles which have been linked to negative health effects when inhaledHowever the potential for nanoparticle formation during waxmelt use was unknownSo Nusrat Jung Brandon Boor and colleagues from Purdue University in the US set out to investigate this process using wax melts in a fullscale house model that mimicked a typical residential houseThe researchers conducted experiments on 15 commercially available wax melts both unscented and scented lemon papaya tangerine and peppermint in the model houseThey first established a baseline of indoor air pollutants and then switched on the wax warmer for about 2 hoursDuring and after this period the researchers continuously sampled the air a few yards meters away from the wax melts and found airborne nanoparticles between 1 and 100 nanometers wide at levels that were comparable to previously reported levels for traditional combustionbased candlesldquoThese particles could pose an inhalation risk because they are small enough to pass through respiratory tissues and enter the bloodstreamrdquo say the researchersAdditionally using literature data the team calculated that a person could inhale similar amounts of nanoparticles from wax melts as from traditional candles and gas stovesIn the experiments the main VOCs emitted from the wax melts were terpenes such as monoterpenes and monoterpenoids The researchers identified that the airborne terpenes reacted with ozone and formed sticky compounds which aggregated into nanoscale particlesHowever after warming an unscented wax melt the team observed no terpene emissions or nanoparticle formation which suggests that these aroma compounds contribute to nanoparticle formationldquoMore toxicology research is needed on the risks of breathing in nanoparticles formed from wax meltsrdquo said researchersThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever