Scented Wax Melts May Not Be as Safe for Indoor Air as Initially Thought

The AHA! Team — Mon, 19 May 2025 05:14:36 +0000

American Chemical Society via EurekAlert! – Researchers monitored the nanoparticles produced from scented wax melts using lab equipment set up inside a model home. Traditional candles vs. Scented wax melts As traditional candles burn, they can contribute to indoor air pollution by emitting volatile compounds and smoke, which may pose inhalation risks. Scented wax melts are often marketed as safer alternatives to candles because they’re flame- and smoke-free. But in a study in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology Letters, researchers describe how aroma compounds released from the melted wax can react with ozone in indoor air to form potentially toxic particles. Previous research has shown that scented wax melts emit more airborne scent compounds than traditional candles. The direct heating of the wax maximizes its surface area, thereby releasing more fragrance – such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) made of hydrocarbons – into the air. Researchers know that these chemicals can react with other compounds in the air to form nanometer-wide particles, which have been linked to negative health effects when inhaled. However, the potential for nanoparticle formation during wax-melt use was unknown. So, Nusrat Jung, Brandon Boor and colleagues set out to investigate this process using wax melts in a full-scale house model that mimicked a typical residential house. Experiments on 15 commercially available wax melts The researchers conducted experiments on 15 commercially available wax melts, both unscented and scented (e.g., lemon, papaya, tangerine and peppermint), in the model house. They first established a baseline of indoor air pollutants and then switched on the wax warmer for about 2 hours. During 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, combustion-based candles. These particles could pose an inhalation risk because they are small enough to pass through respiratory tissues and enter the bloodstream, say the researchers. Literature data Additionally, using literature data, the team calculated that a person could inhale similar amounts of nanoparticles from wax melts as from traditional candles and gas stoves. Previous studies have found exposure to high levels of nanoparticles in indoor air can be linked to health risks like decreased cognitive function and increased prevalence of childhood asthma. The experiments In 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 particles. However, after warming an unscented wax melt, the team observed no terpene emissions or nanoparticle formation, which suggests that these aroma compounds contribute to nanoparticle formation. The researchers say this study challenges the perception that scented wax melts are a safer alternative to combustion-based candles; however, they emphasize that more toxicology research is needed on the risks of breathing in nanoparticles formed from wax melts. A deeper analysis by the researchers of how airborne nanoparticles form indoors from volatile scent compounds was published in 2024 in ACS ES&T Air. The authors acknowledge funding from the National Science Foundation; Purdue University; and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers. Journal Environmental Science & Technology Letters DOI 10.1021/acs.estlett.4c00986 To read the original article click here.

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Can Toxic Chemicals Inside the Home Increase Complications of COVID-19?

AHA Publisher — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 07:00:53 +0000

Damon Hines via NaturalHealth365 – Is it possible that our immune systems are being hacked by the toxic chemicals in our homes? And do these toxic chemicals increase complications of COVID-19? Yes, it’s quite possible! Scientists agree that long-term exposure to air pollution increases the risk of diabetes, hypertension, asthma and coronary artery disease – four of the biggest underlying health risks associated with COVID-19. But there are hazardous chemicals right inside our own home – the “safe” place that we’ve been told to shelter since the start of the global pandemic –that might be affecting our immune system’s defense against COVID-19. The Unseen Dangers of Synthetic Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals Inside Our Home Toxic endocrine disrupting chemicals lurk everywhere. They’re found in food, food packaging, non-stick pans, cosmetics (nail polish, hairspray), fragrances, cleaning products, plastic packages, and children’s toys. And that’s just the beginning. Common endocrine disrupting chemicals Common endocrine disrupting chemicals include bisphenol A (BPA), which is used in the production of certain plastics; Phthalates, which is a plasticizer chemical found in toys, plastic wrap, and fragrance; and PFAS (otherwise known as “forever chemicals”), a family of fluorinated compounds that include more than 4,700 chemicals, and which are said to contaminate the drinking water of over 100 million Americans nationwide. These hazardous chemicals affect our endocrine system by interfering with our hormones’ normal functions. The endocrine system plays an important role in development, metabolism and reproduction, and when these chemicals increase the production of certain hormones and decrease production of others, the body’s normal functioning is scrambled, resulting in a panoply of adverse effects and health conditions. Endocrine disrupting chemical studies Studies have linked endocrine disrupting chemicals to cancer, thyroid disease, birth defects, developmental disorders, raised infertility rates, and lowered IQs, among other heath conditions. Moreover, bisphenol A (BPA) has been found in the laboratory to increase the body’s release of a molecule called interleukin-6, which is believed to play a role in ravaging the lungs of COVID-19 patients. It’s unclear how much endocrine disrupting chemicals are increasing the threat of COVID-19, but what’s crystal-clear is how dangerous these toxic chemicals are to our immune systems, contributing to an increase of disease and disability. How to Prevent Contaminants from Attacking the Immune System As the EPA and FDA continually bow to the economic pressure of big corporations, failing to protect the American people from known toxic ingredients and materials, we need to be our own healthcare advocates and orchestrate long-term lifestyle changes. By limiting the exposure to everyday hormone disrupting chemicals we can boost our immune system and better fight off the negative effects of viruses and infections. How can we limit the exposure to these types of toxic chemicals? Start by: Frequently washing your hands Dusting and vacuuming often Purifying the tap water, if you use it for cooking, showering or drinking Avoiding the use of plastics, cans, and fragrances Steering clear of plastic food containers Cutting back on the consumption of “fast” (junk) foods Avoiding the use of non-stick pans Reading all ingredient labels (if you don’t understand it, don’t buy it) While it might be nearly impossible to avoid all the dangerous synthetic chemicals that lurk throughout our daily lives, we can make our homes a safer place. Just start by taking one lifestyle action step at a time. And, enjoy the process! Sources for this article include: TheGuardian.com To read the original article click here. For more articles from NaturalHealth365 click here.

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Scented Wax Melts May Not Be as Safe for Indoor Air as Initially Thought

Can Toxic Chemicals Inside the Home Increase Complications of COVID-19?