Cathy Flanders Featured in Utne Reader - Issue #92

[Guest guest]

http://www.utne.com/bNewPlanet.tmpl$search?db=dArticle.db & eqheadlinedata=Bur

ning%20Dilemma

Burning Dilemma

While some candles soothe, others pollute

By Becky Gillette, E Magazine

The health-conscious homeowner who would never dream of allowing cigarette

smoke inside the house might burn aromatherapy candles, thinking they

promote a healthy, relaxing atmosphere. But candles can emit acetone,

benzene, lead, soot, and other pollutants.

Flanders of Plano, Texas, found out the hard way: " Things started

looking gray to me. There was a dark film around electrical outlets, the

refrigerator, and the air conditioning vents, and on plastic materials such

as computer screens. "

Ron , vice president of Engineering Corporation, was hired to

investigate the Flanders home. Testing revealed that aromatic candles were

releasing significant quantities of volatile organic compounds, and that the

core wicks were made of lead.

The Flanders, who filed suit against the retailer, aren't alone. Other cases

of what is known as black soot deposition have been darkening homes and

dormitories across the country. " We've had at least two people who talked

about waking up with a black ring around their nostrils, " says . " One

was sleeping with a surgical mask because she had noticed the problem and

didn't know where it was coming from. "

According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), such reports

are increasing. Dan Cautley, an NAHB Research Center engineer, says that

candles and other indoor combustible materials, including incense,

potpourri, and oil lamps, are the prime suspects.

" Since seven out of ten homes burn candles on a regular basis, according to

a study done by and Kline, this issue is extremely far-reaching and

has the potential for affecting millions of homes, " states an NAHB bulletin.

According to Ken Giles, spokesman for the U.S. Consumer Products Safety

Commission, any product combusted indoors can create indoor air quality

problems; wood-burning stoves, fireplaces, and natural gas or kerosene

appliances that are not properly vented are among the culprits. Only

recently have consumers become concerned about candles. " We hear that many

lower-quality candles being manufactured now produce more soot than 20 years

ago, " says Cautley. " This has to do with different types of waxes, aromatic

oils, and wick types. If the wick doesn't burn at the same rate the wax

disappears, the wick will get longer and, typically, the candle will produce

more soot. "

anne McDermott, executive vice president of the National Candle

Association, says U.S. candle makers voluntarily quit using lead wicks many

years ago. " Most of the U.S. manufacturers are very careful, " McDermott

adds. " I would think these candles causing problems were imported. "

But both domestic and imported candles pose problems. Some, though not all,

of the implicated candles are scented. Some are designed poorly or contain

improper materials. Beeswax candles burn cleaner than those made with

paraffin wax, a petroleum product. Don't burn candles in drafts, McDermott

advises, and be sure to trim the wicks.

Aromatherapy-labeled products also may be deceptive, warns Schiller,

president of the International Aromatherapy and Herb Association. In

particular, essential oils (botanical oils emitting the odor of the plant

they were derived from) may be adulterated, diluted, or even absent. " I look

at all of the ingredients and check for purity, " Schiller says. " If there

are any chemicals in there that I don't recognize, I don't buy the product. "

Candle makers aren't required to list ingredients, making selection harder

for consumers. But candles aren't the best way to put aromas in the air,

anyhow, says Schiller; a diffuser or nebulizer (atomizer) is a better

option.

The National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy is trying to develop

quality standards for a True Aromatherapy Product seal. But even when

ingredients are clearly noted, the labeling issue won't be entirely solved.

Some products, including aphrodisiacs, make claims on their labels that

haven't been scientifically proven. Mindy Green, director of educational

services for the Herb Research Foundation, believes aromatherapy companies

that make therapeutic claims should follow the guidelines of the Dietary

Supplement Health and Education Act, passed in 1994. The act governs label

claims for dietary supplements, including herbs.

Many of the plants used to make essential oils are gathered from the wild,

which raises sustainability issues. Green says some botanists have advocated

not purchasing rosewood products because the tree is being decimated along

river corridors in Brazil. Others argue that the tree is common in other

areas, and some providers claim they use sustainably grown and ethically

harvested rosewood. Sandalwood faces similar problems, says Green: " It takes

so long to grow, and there was a big fire in 1997 in the sandalwood forests

in India. But, again, you will find companies that say they use a small

farmer using sustainable growing and ethical harvesting practices. Although

many of the essential oil herbs are wildcrafted, a lot are planted each

year, too. "

As more aromatherapy products surface, consumers will need to be

increasingly careful in deciding which are healthful and which do harm.

Go For It: How To Test for Soot Deposition:

Light candle in a confined area, such as a bathroom. Place two or three

stacks of thin, white, disposable plastic plates around the candle to create

a static charge. Close or block heating vents. After 10 minutes to one hour,

check for a thin dark film on the top plate of each stack. Source: Candles

and Indoor Air Quality (www.fiscorp.net/iaq)

National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy

Box 17622

Boulder, CO 80308

888/ASK-NAHA

International Aromatherapy and Herb Association

3541 W. Acapulco Lane

Phoenix, AZ 85053

602/938-4439

American Alliance of Aromatherapy

Box 309

Depoe Bay, OR 97321

800/809-9850

-- Becky Gillette

From E Magazine

From E Magazine (Nov./Dec. 1998). Subscriptions: $20/yr. (6 issues) from Box

2047, n, OH 43306.