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ARE TOXIC CANDLES CAUSING YOUR MEMORY LOSS?
Marie Anakee Miczak
In an article published in an Eastern United States newspaper,
candles were recently discussed in a glowing manner. Complete with
subdued input from candle lovers who just happened to also sell
candle products. As with many candle advertisements, scented candles
were the main topic of choice, explaining how pleasing they can be
and even healthful. Some of the interview subjects even noted how
they burned double-digit numbers of candles at the same time without
suffering any ill effects and will continue to do so. Concerns over
candle safety were given but a few lines of ink and those bringing
such issues to the publics attention were called "Health Police" or
something similar. Of course such an article only showed poor taste
and journalistic ability of the paper instead of calming the backlash
of reports about new candle toxicity issues, which was obviously the
hidden agenda.
Surely, one interviewed family on a news program would not have
agreed with the articles one-sided view after their candle burning
experience. Showing what they thought was restraint and common sense,
they limited their candle burning to a single scented votive placed
in the family room. However, after a short while all members of the
family, including the young son began to show signs of extreme
forgetfulness. While the adults, who were of middle age, could
somewhat understand their loss of daily memory, they could not
understand why their son was also suffering the same symptoms. They
ultimately paid a visit to their medical physician. Tests showed that
their level of lead in their blood was above what was excepted as
safe. The task then turned to finding what was slowly poisoning them.
It turned out the candle they had purchased was made with a metal
wick containing lead. As it burned, it slowly released lead into the
air. This prompted recalls and further investigations into candles
not created in the US. What is disturbing is that this set of events
occurred before the writing of the newspaper piece. Instead of
including information on how to protect yourself from lead filled
candles, it dwelled on how wonderful candles can make you feel.
Many people likely never knew candles were even made with metal
wicks, let alone they may be presently exposed to lead poisoning. To
test your candles, burn the wick a few minutes (outdoors) and then
take a piece of white paper. Rub the wick on the paper. Can you draw
with it like a pencil? If so, discard it at once. Home lead tests can
also be used to test candlewicks and candles themselves. When FDA
guidelines are not used, who knows what is being used in commercially
made candles to cut corners and drive up profits. This combined with
recent deaths due to candles being left burning in unoccupied rooms
(or while the victim slept) and those made with chemical scents
likely contributing to asthma problems, leaves the need to
realistically look at how candles should play a roll in our dally
lives. Likely, they are best used outdoors or for special occasions.
If an aromatic effect is wanted, a diffuser of real essential oils
will likely be a much better choice. Many burn candles in an attempt
to return to the era of simplicity and romance. However, as the PBS
series "1900's House" showed, air quality of Victorian homes was many
times not healthy because of candles and open flame lamps. This
caused many to have decreased lung capacity and an early demise.
Originally published at www.Suite101.com.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Marie Anakee Miczak is the author of a number of
books including her latest "Henna's Secret History" and frequently
writes for various publications on health. For more information
visit http://www.mehndi.tajmahal.net or e-mail mehndi@....
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