[Warning] An Air Pollutant Hiding in Your Home?!

By Dr. Scott Olson, ND Posted November 25, 2020

Dear Reader, 

When you think of air pollution, the typical culprits come to mind… 

Automobile exhaust, factory fumes, cigarette smoke… 

But have you ever considered one that’s hiding in your own home?  

In fact, it could be in your house right now. 

Here are the facts…  

Maybe you are like my wife; whenever we have friends over, or when she wants to relax, she lights a candle.  

She’s not alone.  

According to the National Candle Association (yes, there is a national association for candles!), retail sales of candles reached approximately $3.14 billion dollars last year. 

Sure, candles are nice – they create an aroma and can add ambiance.  

But are they safe?  

The answer is: it depends.  

Both men and women consider candles to be an “always acceptable” and “highly appreciated gift” (according, once again, to the National Candle Association).   

Some stores almost exclusively sell candles, but you can find them in just about any store you walk into.  

All those candle sales add up to a lot of wax (more than a billion pounds of wax are used every year).  

Most of that wax is paraffin wax, a waste byproduct of petroleum refining. When paraffin wax is burned, it releases benzene and toluene (known carcinogens) into your room. 

Candles used to contain lead core wicks (lead wicks were banned in 2003, but some people still have these candles in their homes).  

Scented candles also have another problem: many of the scents also come from petrochemicals. When these candles burn, the scents throw off chemicals like aldehyde, acetyl aldehyde, and acrolein, and others.  

All this leads to the potential for candle burning to be a significant source of indoor air pollution – often exceeding the EPA limits for indoor air quality.  

But, once again… it depends.  

There are several factors that affect whether you are getting a toxic dose of chemicals: the size of the room (bathroom or large living room), the number of candles, how big of a flame is being produced, how much air is coming into the house, and so on  

The difference between ten candles being burned in the bathroom when taking a bath and one candle on your outdoor porch is significant.  

There is a solution: go natural.  

Natural candles are made from beeswax (you can often find these at health food stores), they contain natural scents which burn cleaner (and, I personally think, smell better).  

P.S. Candles aren’t the only household item that could be endangering your health. Learn about other household dangers that could be putting your health at risk, here.  

Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND

Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.

View More By Dr. Scott Olson, ND