Risk of cancer and asthma from scented candles

Headaches, asthma, nervous system damage, risk of cancer,... are unpredictable effects of regularly using scented candles containing chemicals.

Scented candles are one of the easiest and most effective ways to mask unpleasant odors in a room. They are used to create a fresh, relaxing atmosphere after a hard day's work or while bathing.

However, there have been many issues raised about human health from the scent of candles. According to Anne Steinemann - an expert on environmental pollutants, professor of civil engineering at the University of Melbourne, scented candles contain many dangerous chemicals such as benzene and toluene.

Toluene, also known as methylbenzene or phenylmethane, is a clear liquid that is insoluble in water. Toluene is an aromatic hydrocarbon that is widely used as a solvent in industry.

Like toluene, benzene is an aromatic hydrocarbon, under normal conditions a colorless liquid with a pleasant sweet odor, flammable. The World Health Organization WHO has classified benzene as a cancer-causing chemical.

Some countries in the world stipulate that women are not allowed to work in jobs that expose them to benzene. Workers exposed to benzene must frequently change jobs to minimize their exposure to benzene.

Abuse of scented candles causes diseases such as asthma, headaches, cancer

The reason is because these chemicals affect the brain, nervous system, can lead to cancer, asthma. Steinemann added:

“I’ve heard of people with asthma who can’t even walk into a store that sells scented candles until they’re lit. The scent of the candles makes them cough more and even get migraines.”

Researchers at the University of South Carolina also conducted a study testing two types of candles: petroleum-based paraffin candles and vegetable candles that are unscented, pigmented, and dye-free. In a 2009 report, chemistry professor Ruhullah Massoudi said that vegetable candles do not produce toxic substances when burned, but paraffin candles do emit toxic chemicals.

“For people who use scented candles daily for years or just occasionally, breathing in these dangerous chemicals in the air can increase their risk of diseases like cancer, allergies or asthma,” says Massoudi.

According to Alobacsi.vn