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Fireplaces and woodburners are not good for lungs because the

burning of the wood causes tiny particles of soot to enter the air.

Even if you can't see them, they are there and can get trapped in

the thicker-than-usual mucus in the lungs of people with cf, causing

irritation, which is a bad thing.

I don't know what emissions candles put off, but I am certain it

can't be anything like a fireplace. You could ask your child's

doctor about it. Some heavily scented candles may be irritating to

lungs. I use lots of tea lights in our home and my child with cf

doesn't seem to have any problems from them.

Maybe someone here on the list will know what emissions candles

actually put out?

~

> Hi Everyone,

> Ok this may be a dumb question. My 8 month old son has CF and

someone

> told

> me I could not use candles anymore. Is this true? I use a tart

burner

> on my

> stove several times a week. My mom and sister have severe asthma

and

> their

> doctor told them no fireplaces but never mentioned candles.

>

> Thanks

> mom of 4 boys one with CF.

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Found this study on the EPA site

http://www.epa.gov/ordntrnt/ORD/NRMRL/Publications/600R01001.htm

(you may have to copy and paste this into your browser's address

bar, it's probaby too long to just click on.)

It covers candles and incense. In summary, candles emit little into

the air, but can be bad if they have lead wicks, or if you just blow

them out to extinguish them (sending up a puff of smoke) instead of

clipping the wick or covering to extinguish. Incense is just bad

all around, according to this paper (and, I suppose, according to

common sense, too.)

~

21

4. POTENTIAL INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPACTS OF BURNING

CANDLES AND INCENSE

4.A CANDLES

When candles are burned, they emit trace amounts of organic

chemicals, including acetaldehyde,

formaldehyde, acrolein, and naphthalene (Lau et al., 1997). However,

the primary constituent of

public health concern in candle emissions is lead. Metal was

originally put in wicks to keep the

wick standing straight when the surrounding wax begins to melt. The

metal prevents the wick

from falling over and extinguishing itself as soon as the wax fails

to support it. The US candle

manufacturing industry voluntarily agreed to cease production of

lead-containing candles in

1974, once it was shown that burning lead-wick candles resulted in

increased lead concentrations

in indoor air (Sobel et al., 2000b). Unfortunately, despite the

voluntary ban, lead wick candles

can still be found on the market.

According to the National Candle Association (NCA), most US candle

manufacturers have

abided by the agreement to cease lead wick production. All of the

NCA members have signed

pledges not to use lead wicks in candles they manufacture. In

addition, the NCA has sent a letter

to all the candle manufacturers registered with the Register

of American Manufacturers

informing them of the potentially adverse health effects associated

with wicks that contain lead

and asking them to sign pledges not to use wicks containing lead in

their candles. The NCA has

also sent letters to retailer trade associations to inform them of

this issue.

The NCA states that only a small number (one or two) of candle

manufacturers make their own

22

wicks. The rest purchase wicks from wick manufacturers. One such

manufacturer is Atkins and

Pearce, Inc.; they claim to have stopped making and selling wicks

with lead in 1999.

The Candle Product Subcommittee of the American Society of Testing

and Materials (ASTM) is

working on voluntary standards for candle content, including

labeling standards. It is anticipated

that this standard will address the lead issue. The draft standard

was presented at the fall 2000

ASTM meeting.

There have been limited investigations regarding the prevalence and

source of candles with lead

wicks. ERG did not find any statistical studies investigating the

presence of lead-wick candles in

the US marketplace. However, a handful of studies contain some

information about the

occurrence of lead-wick candles in the local study areas. The

following discussion and Table 6

present information on lead and other chemicals emitted from candles.

Lead Wick Emissions

In February 2000, the Public Citizen's Health Research Group

conducted a study of the lead

content of candles in the Baltimore-Washington area. They purchased

285 candles from 12

stores, excluding candle-only stores, and tested the wicks for the

presence of lead. They found

that nine candles, or 3% of the candles they purchased, contained

lead. Total lead content ranged

from approximately 24,000 to 118,000 µg (33 to 85% of the weight of

the metal in the candle

wick).

4PEL (Permissible Exposure Limit): These OSHA standards were

designed to provide health protection for

industry employees by regulating exposure to over 300 chemicals.

PELs are an 8-hour time weighted average.

5EPA Outdoor Ambient Air Quality Standards: Required by the Clean

Air Act, these standards were set for

pollutants thought to harm public health and the environment,

including the health of " sensitive " populations

such as asthmatics, children, and the elderly.

23

An academic study was conducted on the emissions of lead and zinc

from candles with metalcore

wicks (Nriagu and Kim, 2000). For this study, the researchers

purchased and tested candles

(found in Michigan stores) that had metal-core wicks. Fourteen

brands of candles manufactured

in the US, Mexico, and China were found to contain lead. Emission

rates from candles ranged

from 0.52 to 327 µg-lead/hour, resulting in lead levels in air

ranging from 0.02 to 13.1 µg/m3.

These concentrations are below the Occupational Safety and Health

Administration (OSHA)

Permissible Exposure Limit4 (PEL) of 50 µg/m3, but above the EPA

outdoor ambient air quality

standard5 of 1.5 µg/m3. It is important to note that, although the

EPA standard was not developed

for use for indoor air comparisons, it is used throughout this

report as a conservative comparison

value. OSHA's PEL values should also be interpreted with some

caution for they are

occupational standards not designed for the protection of the

general public, children, or sensitive

populations.

Another prominent study, van Alphen (1999), examined emissions and

inhalation exposurebased

risks for candles having lead wick cores. The mean emission rate was

770 µg-lead/hour,

with a range of 450 to 1,130 µg-lead/hour. A candle burned for 3

hours at 1,000 µg-lead/hour

in a 50 m3 room with poor ventilation is estimated to yield a 24-

hour lead concentration of 9.9

µg/m3, and a peak concentration of 42.1 µg/m3. OSHA's 50 µg/m3 PEL

is not approached in this

24

study, but again, EPA's outdoor ambient air standard of 1.5 µg/m3 is

exceeded.

Sobel et al. (2000a) modeled lead emissions from candles containing

lead wicks. After burning

multiple candles in a contained room, 24-hour lead concentrations

ranged from 15.2 to 54.0

µg/m3. The candle containing the least amount of lead produced lead

concentrations of 30.6

µg/m3 in 3 hours. The maximum concentration of 54 µg/m3 is above the

PEL standard of 50

µg/m3 and EPA's outdoor ambient air quality standard of 1.5 µg/m3.

Other Metals

Zinc

After the ban on lead-containing wicks, candle companies began

looking for alternatives that

provided the desired characteristics of the lead wick without the

harmful emissions. Many

companies turned to braided wicks, which consist of three smaller

wicks wound together to

provide some stiffness. Zinc cores are also commonly used, since the

metal provides the desired

amount of stiffness, burns off readily with the rest of the wick,

and does not have the same toxic

effects as lead.

Zinc is an essential element for human health. However, inhaling

large amounts of zinc (as zinc

dust or fumes from smelting or welding) over a short period of time

(acute exposure) can cause

a disease called metal fume fever. Very little is known about the

long-term effects of breathing

zinc dust or fumes (Eco-USA.net, 2000).

25

Nriagu and Kim (2000) found the release of zinc from metal-core

wicks to be 1.2 to 124

µg/hour, which is too low to be of health concern in indoor air. All

nonferrous metals have

traces of lead impurities; for zinc, the maximum lead content is

0.004% (Barker Co., 2000).

The lead emissions from zinc wicks are below the detection level of

most test methods (Barker

Co., 2000), though one study found emission rates of 0.014 µg-

lead/hour (Ungers and

Associates, 2000).

Tin

Tin is also commonly used as a stiffener for candle wicks. It is

considered to be nontoxic

(Chemglobe, 2000). Tin has a maximum lead content of 0.08%, but,

like zinc, lead emissions

are below the detection limit when tin wicks are burned (Barker Co.,

2000).

Organics

Several organic compounds have been detected in candle emissions.

Three articles have

focused specifically on this topic. Lau et al. (1997) measured

levels of selected compounds in

candle materials and modeled human exposure to a worst-case scenario

of 30 candles burned for

3 hours in a 40 m3 room with realistic air flow conditions. Schwind

and Hosseinpour (1994)

analyzed candle materials and the combustion process, and created a

worst-case scenario of 30

candles burned for 4 hours in a 50 m3 room with approximately 0.7

L/min air flow. Fine et al.

(1999) also performed a series of emission tests on the combustion

of paraffin and beeswax

610-6 excess cancer risk level: This EPA comparison value is the air

concentration known to produce an

increased risk of 1 in 1,000,000 for cancer.

7RfC (Reference Concentration): This EPA health-based comparison

value assumes that there is a threshold for

certain toxic effects. The RfC is an estimate (with uncertainty

spanning perhaps an order of magnitude) of a

daily inhalation exposure of the human population (including

sensitive subgroups) that is likely to be without

an appreciable risk of deleterious effects during a lifetime.

8STEL (Short-Term Exposure Level): This OSHA standard was designed

to limit maximum concentrations of

exposure as averaged over any 15 minute period. This is an

occupational standard, not designed for the

protection of the general public, children, or sensitive populations.

26

candles burned in an air chamber with a volume of approximately 0.64

m3 and an air flow rate

of 100 L/min. Results of the studies are presented below and in

Table 6.

Acetaldehyde

Acetaldehyde levels for 30 candles burned in an enclosed room for 3

hours were modeled at

0.834 µg/m3 (Lau et al., 1997); this is above the EPA's 10-6 excess

cancer risk level6 of 0.5

µg/m3, but below the EPA inhalation reference concentration (RfC)7

of 9 µg/m3.

Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde levels were measured at 0.190 µg/m3 (Lau et al., 1997)

and 17 µg/m3 (Schwind

and Hosseinpour, 1994). Again, these measurements were above the

EPA's 10-6 excess cancer

risk level of 0.08 µg/m3, but below the OSHA PEL maximum of 921.1

µg/m3. Formaldehyde

levels for both studies were far below OSHA's STEL8 maximum of

2,456.1 µg/m3.

Acrolein

Maximum concentrations of acrolein were measured at 0.073 µg/m3 (Lau

et al., 1997) and <1

µg/m3 (Schwind and Hosseinpour, 1994). These levels are above the

RfC of 0.02 µg/m3 and

27

below the PEL of 250 µg/m3. A cigarette burned in a similar

environment produces acrolein

levels of 23 µg/m3 (Lau et al., 1997).

Polychlorodibenzo-p-dioxins/Polychlorodibenzofurans (PCDD/PCDF)

Levels of PCDD/PCDF were measured at 0.038 pg I-TEQ/m3 (Schwind and

Hosseinpour,

1994). The TEQ is the toxic equivalency method used to evaluate

dioxins. It represents the sum

of the concentrations of the multiple dioxin congeners " adjusted " to

account for the toxicity of

each congener relative to the most toxic dioxin, 2,3,7,8-TCDD.

Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)

The amount of PAHs measured in candle emissions and soot differs

between studies. Fine et al.

(1999) found that no significant levels of PAHs were detected in the

emissions from normal

burning and smoldering candles. In contrast, Huynh et al. (1991)

found that soot from wax-light

church candles contained measurable concentrations of PAHs: the

study measured 882 µg

benzo[ghi]perylene per gram of candle soot and 163 µg benzo[a]pyrene

per gram of candle soot.

However, Huynh et al. did not measure PAH concentrations from

candles in air. Wallace

(2000) also concluded that a citronella candle was a source of PAHs

in a study of real-time

monitoring of PAHs in an occupied townhouse, but did not quantify

the concentration or

emission rate.

Concentrations of benzo[a]pyrene in air due to candle emissions can

measure 0.002 µg/m3 (Lau

et al., 1997). This is below the PEL value of 200 µg/m3. Naphthalene

maximum concentration

28

levels were measured at 0.04 µg/m3 (Schwind and Hosseinpour, 1994),

below the EPA RfC of 3

µg/m3.

Alkanes, Wax Esters, Alkanoic and Alkenoic Acids, Alkenes

Fine et al. (1999) found that the majority of emissions from candles

consisted of organic

compounds including alkanes, wax esters, alkanoic and alkenoic

acids, and alkenes. Some of

the compounds found were thermally altered products of the unburned

wax, while others were

unaltered in the volatilization process. Concentrations of the

organic compounds in air were not

calculated.

Particulate Matter

The diameter of candle flame particles have been measured between 20

and 100 nm (Li and

Hopke, 1993) and 100 and 800 nm depending on the mode of burning

(Fine et al. 1999).

Neither study calculated maximum concentrations of particles in air.

Li and Hopke (1993)

subjected candle flame particles to relative humidity comparable to

that in the human respiratory

tract, and found that candle flame particles grew in size. White

candles had a 20% larger

growth potential than scented candles.

29

Table 6: Indoor Air Impacts of Burning Candles

Contaminant Study

Maximum

Concentration

STEL PEL RfC

10-6 Excess

Cancer Risk

Lead Nriagu and

Kim

0.02- 13.1 µg/m3 NA 50 µg/m3 NA NA

van Alphen 42.1 µg/m3

Sobel et

al.(2000a)

15.2 to 54.0

µg/m3

Zinc Nriagu and

Kim

1.2-124 µg/hour a NA NA NA NA

Tin NA NA NA NA NA NA

Acetaldehyde Lau et al. 0.834 µg/m3 NA 360,000

µg/m3

9 µg/m3 0.5 µg/m3

Formaldehyde Lau et al. 0.190 µg/m3 2,456.1

µg/m3

921.1

µg/m3

NA 0.08 µg/m3

Schwind and

Hosseinpour

17 µg/m3

Acrolein Lau et al. 0.073 µg/m3 NA 250 µg/m3 0.02

µg/m3

NA

Schwind and

Hosseinpour

<1 µg/m3

PCDD/PCDF Schwind and

Hosseinpour

0.038 pg ITEQ/

m3

NA NA NA NA

Benzo [a]

pyrene

Lau et al. 0.002 µg/m3 NA 2001

µg/m3

NA NA

Naphthalene Schwind and

Hosseinpour

0.04 µg/m3 NA 50,000

µg/m3

3 µg/m3 NA

Alkanes, Wax

Esters,

Alkanoic and

Alkenoic

Acids,

Alkenes

NA NA NA NA NA NA

Particulate NA NA NA NA NA NA

aThis number represents an emission rate, not a concentration. A

maximum concentration was not calculated for

zinc.

30

Candle Soot

Black Soot Deposition (BSD) is also referred to as ghosting, carbon

tracking, carbon tracing,

and dirty house syndrome. Complaints of BSD have risen significantly

since 1992 (Krause,

1999).

Black soot is the product of the incomplete combustion of carbon-

containing fuels. Complete

combustion would result in a blue flame, and would produce

negligible amounts of soot and

carbon monoxide. Until recently, the source for the black soot in

homes was unknown.

Through interviews and recent experiments, it is now believed that

frequent candle burning is

one of the sources of black soot. The amount of soot produced can

vary greatly from candle to

candle. One type of candle can produce as much as 100 times more

soot than another type

(Krause, 1999). For example, elemental carbon emission rates varied

from <40 to 3,370 µg/g

candle burned in a study of sooting behavior in candles (Fine et

al., 1999). The type of soot may

also vary; though primarily composed of elemental carbon, candle

soot may include phthalates,

lead, and volatiles such as benzene and toluene (Krause, 1999).

Scented candles are the major source of candle soot deposition. Most

candle wax paraffins are

saturated hydrocarbons that are solid at room temperature. Most

fragrance oils are unsaturated

hydrocarbons and are liquid at room temperature. The lower the

carbon-to-hydrogen ratio, the

less soot is produced by the flame. Therefore, waxes that have more

fragrances in them produce

31

more soot. In other words, candles labeled " super scented " and those

that are soft to the touch

are more likely to generate soot.

The situation in which a candle is burned can also impact its

sooting potential. A small and

stable flame has a lower emission rate than a larger flickering

flame with visible black particle

emissions (Vigil, 1998). A forced air flow around the flame can also

cause sporadic sooting

behavior (Fine et al., 1999). Thus, candles in glass containers

produce more soot because the

container causes unsteady air flow and disturbs the flame shape

( et al., 2000). Candles

that are extinguished by oxygen deprivation, or blowing out the

candle, produce more soot than

those extinguished by cutting off the tip of the wick. Cutting the

wick eliminates the emissions

produced by a smoldering candle ( et al., 2000).

When soot builds up in air, it eventually deposits onto surfaces due

to one of four factors. First,

the particle may randomly collide with a surface. Second, soot

particles can be circulated by

passing through home air-conditioning filters. Third, soot can gain

enough mass to become

subject to gravity. Homes with BSD often have carpets stained from

soot deposition (Vigil,

1998). Finally, the particles are attracted to electrically charged

surfaces such as freezers,

vertical plastic blinds, television sets, and computers (Krause,

1999).

32

When soot is airborne, it is subject to inhalation. The particles

can potentially penetrate the

deepest areas of the lungs, the lower respiratory tract and alveoli

(Krause, 1999). ERG did not

find research literature on the health effects of residential

exposure to candle soot.

Conclusion

Candles with lead wicks have the potential to generate indoor

airborne lead concentrations of

health concern. It is also possible for consumers to unknowingly

purchase candles containing

lead wick cores and repeatedly expose themselves to harmful amounts

of lead through regular

candle-burning.

Lead wicks aside, consumers are also exposed to concentrations of

organic chemicals in candle

emissions. The European Candle Association (1997) and Schwind and

Hosseinpour (1994)

conclude that there is no health hazard associated with candle

burning even when a worst-case

scenario of 30 candles burning for 4 hours in a 50 m3 room is

assumed. However, burning

several candles exceeded the EPA's 10-6 increased risk for cancer

for acetaldehyde and

formaldehyde, and exceeded the RfC for acrolein. Once again, the RfC

and EPA's 10-6

increased cancer risk guidelines are not designed specifically for

indoor air quality issues, so

these conclusions are subject to interpretation.

33

Consumers may also not be aware that the regular burning of candles

may result in BSD,

causing damage to their homes. Sooting can be reduced by keeping

candle wicks short, drafts to

a minimum, and burning unscented candles.

Additional research may want to focus on gaps in the literature,

such as emissions from scented

and multi-colored candles, and maximum concentrations of organics in

air produced by sooting

candles.

4.B INCENSE

Several studies found associations between exposure to incense smoke

and many illnesses,

including cancer, asthma, and contact dermatitis. Incense burning

was found to be a contributing

factor in the occurrence of asthma for Quatar children (Dawod and

Hussain, 1995), and coughing

was found to be associated with incense exposure in a study of

Taiwanese children (Yang et al.,

1997). Burning incense produces volatile fragrances that, once

airborne, can reach exposed skin,

causing dermatitis (Roveri et al., 1998). An elevated risk for

leukemia was found in children

whose parents burned incense during pregnancy or while nursing

(Lowengart et al., 1987). A

study of childhood brain tumors showed elevated risk for children

whose parents burned incense

in the home (Preston- et al., 1982).

From comparing mutagenic potencies of incense, formaldehyde, and

acetaldehyde to Salmonella

typhimurium T102, Chang et al. (1997) concluded that incense smoke

contains highly active

34

compounds with a higher mutagenic potency than formaldehyde. Sato et

al. (1980) and

Rasmussen (1987) have also found that incense smoke is mutagenic to

S. typhimurium TA98, TA

100, and TA104. Incense Smoke Condensates (ISCs), the particles

released during incense

burning, were found to be mutagenic and/or genotoxic in the Ames

test, the SOS chromotest, and

the SCE/CHO assays. The genotoxicity of certain ISCs in mammalian

cells was also found to be

higher than particles produced from tobacco smoke condensates (TSCs)

(Chen et al., 1990).

Interestingly, one study concluded that burning incense decreases

the chances of developing lung

cancer (Liu et al., 1993). However, this study was conducted in

China, where societal factors

may have influenced the results of the study. For example, people

using incense may be more

well off and therefore have healthier life styles in general (Liu et

al., 1993). A few studies

examined emissions of specific contaminants from incense smoke.

These results are discussed

below.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide inhibits the blood's ability to carry oxygen to body

tissues including vital

organs such as the heart and brain. Symptoms of carbon monoxide

exposure vary widely based

on exposure level, duration, and the general health and age of an

individual. Typical symptoms

include headache, dizziness, and nausea. These 'flu like' symptoms

often result in a misdiagnosis

and can cause delayed or misdirected treatment. Contact with high

levels of carbon monoxide

can result in unconsciousness and death (EPA, 2000b).

35

Although Löfroth et al. (1991) found that burning incense produced

sizeable amounts of carbon

monoxide (220 mg/g incense burned), the authors concluded that it is

not likely to exceed EPA

regulatory standards unless the incense is burned in a very small

room with very little ventilation.

The standard used for a comparison value in the study was the EPA's

outdoor ambient air quality

standard of 10 mg/m3. This is not necessarily the most appropriate

comparison value, especially

since mg/g incense burned, not maximum indoor air concentration, was

reported.

Isoprene

Isoprene is a hydrocarbon created and emitted from plants and trees

during respiration, and has

also been detected in tobacco smoke and automobile exhaust. Isoprene

does have genotoxic

properties (EDF, 2000).

Interestingly, the predominant exposure to isoprene comes from its

formation in the human body.

An exhaled breath contains 1-3 mg/m3 of isoprene. Löfroth et al.

(1991) concluded that 1.1 mg

isoprene/g incense burned would not result in adverse health

effects. Again, maximum indoor air

concentrations were not provided in this study.

Benzene

Löfroth et al. (1991) compared benzene emissions from the food

preparation process, cigarette

smoking, and burning incense. The study found that emissions of

benzene resulting from

burning an incense cone were 440 µg/g incense burned. Löfroth et al.

concluded that this

36

emission level could possibly cause an increase in indoor benzene

concentrations above urban air

background levels of 2-20 µg/m3. A maximum indoor benzene

concentration was not calculated

in this study, so we cannot justifiably compare Löfroth's value to

the EPA 10-6 excess cancer risk

estimates, reported as a range of 0.13 to 45 µg/m3 (EPA, 2000a).

Musk Xylene, Musk Ketone, and Musk Ambrette

Musk xylene (2,4,6-trinitro-1,3-dimethyl-5-tertiary butyl benzene),

musk ketone (3,5-dinitro-2,6-

dimethly-4-tertiary butyl acetophenone), and musk ambrette (2-

methoxy-3,5 dinitro-4-methyltertiary

butylbenzene) are contained in some types of Chinese incense (Roveri

et al., 1998). They

are known for making skin more sensitive to light and causing

irritations. When incense is

burned, airborne particles may dissolve in the upper layer of skin

and allergic contact dermatitis

may arise. However, toxicity and health data for these chemicals are

not available.

Particulate Matter

Burning incense was found to generate large quantities of

particulate matter (Mannix et al.,

1996). Mannix et al. estimated the median diameter of particulates

in aerosols to be between

0.24 and 0.40 µm, and hypothesize that particles could deposit in

the respiratory tract. Mannix et

al. did not perform a chemical characterization of compounds present

in the particulate phase, but

recommend that a human exposure scenario be done. Li and Hopke

(1993) also found that

incense smoke produced larger particles, in the range of 0.1 to 0.7

µm. Tung et al. (1999) found

that PM10 concentrations in Hong Kong homes were 23% higher with

smoking or incense

37

burning– the mean indoor PM10 level for all homes was 78.8 µg/m3,

while mean PM10 for

smoking or incense-burning homes was 96.6 µg/m3. This is below the

EPA's national ambient

air quality 24-hour standard of 150 µg/m3, but above the annual

standard of 50 µg/m3. Chao et

al. (1998) found that burning incense in a home with poor

ventilation could result in a peak

concentration of total suspended particulates (TSPs) of 1,850 µg/m3.

In 1987, EPA began using

PM10, particles measuring 10 µm or less in diameter, rather than

TSPs as the standard unit of

measure. However, before that time, the standard for outdoor TSPs in

the United States was 260

µg/m3 for a 24-hour average and 75 µg/m3 for an annual average. The

concentration of

particulates found in Chao et al. (1998) far exceeds 260 µg/m3.

Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)

Reports of PAHs in incense soot have been contradictory. Chang et

al. (1997) did not find PAHs

in the vapor extract of incense smoke. However, Koo (1994)

determined that PAH levels rose

with incense burning in a study of Hong Kong residences. Incense

soot was found to contain

measurable concentrations of fluoranthene, pyrene, benzo

fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene,

benzo[a]pyrene, dibenzo[def,p]chrysene, benzo[ghi]perylene, ideno

[1,2,3,-cd]pyrene,

anthanthrene, and coronene (Huynh et al., 1991). Though the study

established that the

maximum dust concentration corresponded with the burning of incense,

maximum

concentrations of PAHs from incense burning were not calculated.

38

Conclusion

Incense produces particulate matter that can deposit in the

respiratory tract, and elevates airborne

concentrations of carbon monoxide and benzene. Incense also contains

trace amounts of

chemicals suspected of causing skin irritation, and exposure to

incense has been linked with

several illnesses. Incense smoke should be considered a source of

indoor pollutants in rooms in

which incense is regularly burned (Cheng and Bechtold, 1995).

However, the studies reviewed

measured emissions for only a limited number of incense types and

brands; with the large range

of incense manufacturers and importers on the market, other incense

types could differ in the

parameters examined.

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I use them sparingly, our daughter's doc doesn't have a problem with them once

in a while. if the tart burner is one with the tea light candle in the bottom,

then it does have smoke so it might not be so good, but the kind for your stove

doesn't give off smoke. So I think that would be ok.

's doc also said being around a (well cleaned out, well cared for) fire

place once in a while (like at a relative's home for a few hours) is ok. Not

something that you want to have going all the time at home though.

Just check it out with the doc.

mom of 5 with CF and one on the way (still waiting for the amnio results)

Candles

Hi Everyone,

Ok this may be a dumb question. My 8 month old son has CF and someone

told

me I could not use candles anymore. Is this true? I use a tart burner

on my

stove several times a week. My mom and sister have severe asthma and

their

doctor told them no fireplaces but never mentioned candles.

Thanks

mom of 4 boys one with CF.

-------------------------------------------

The opinions and information exchanged on this list should IN NO WAY

be construed as medical advice.

PLEASE CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN BEFORE CHANGING ANY MEDICATIONS OR TREATMENTS.

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