| Candles are a popular way to add warmth and | | | | outside your home and they are not only harmful to |
| beauty to the home décor. They come in all | | | | humans, but to pets as well. It has been reported by |
| shapes and sizes, as well as beautiful colors and | | | | The American Lung Association that lead particles |
| scents. The festive atmosphere that they bring give | | | | may be released by some candles, being able to float |
| you no warning that there is more going on than | | | | in the air, landing on the floor or areas where they |
| meets the eye. They can also add things that are | | | | may be ingested by your pet. |
| not healthy and they can be a hazard to your health. | | | | The soot that rises from the candle can be seen |
| Don't be in the dark as to what is going on when | | | | readily in most cases. Depending on the type of |
| you light your candle. | | | | candle, the amount of soot produced can vary. It is |
| Depending on how the candle is made, there are | | | | caused by incomplete burning of fuels containing |
| scented candles that can emit toxins into the air | | | | carbon. Candle soot can be deposited on any area in |
| inside your home including mercury and lead. When a | | | | your home causing it to become blackened. These |
| wick containing lead is burned, it can possibly emit | | | | deposits of soot lead to stained carpets, and particles |
| some toxic chemicals like benzene and acetone. | | | | that are electrically charged to plastic surfaces such |
| These toxins, if inhaled, are harmful to your body | | | | as your freezer or refrigerator. There is more |
| through your central nervous system, as well as your | | | | likelihood of soot coming from larger candles as well |
| blood systems and cardiovascular systems. Children | | | | as from candles containing large amounts of scent. |
| and seniors can be particularly affected. | | | | Certain precautions can be taken to reduce the risk |
| Metallic cores are not found in all candles but mostly | | | | involved: you can burn only beeswax candles or |
| with candles that need to burn for a longer period of | | | | those that you are certain are pollution-free; be sure |
| time. Ceremonial candles may contain wicks with | | | | that the wick does not have a metal core; you can |
| metallic cores, bringing rigidity and providing a burn | | | | also trim the wick to a quarter of an inch. Be aware |
| rate that is slower. Scented candles also have a need | | | | that the more fragrance that is found in the candle, |
| to burn slower and may be found to have wicks with | | | | the more soot is created. Of course if you learn how |
| metallic cores. These potential health hazards have | | | | to make your own candles, you can be sure of the |
| the ability to make the air inside your home as | | | | ingredients that go into them, ensuring that the |
| dangerous as or even more dangerous than the air | | | | environment in your home is safe. |