The Surprising Dangers of Holiday Candles for Louisiana Families

As the days grow shorter and darker here in Louisiana, many families find themselves craving warmth and comfort at home.

Whether it's cooking a chicken sausage gumbo or decorating your home for the holidays, there are so many ways to make your home feel cozy and festive.

One of the easiest ways to make your home feel like Christmas is lighting a holiday scented candle, especially if you have an artificial Christmas tree in your home, but you still want the scent.

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But while filling your home with these cozy scents may seem harmless, experts are raising concerns about the hidden health risks they can cause.

A study from StudyFinds.org highlights how candles and other home fragrance products may negatively affect indoor air quality, potentially harming your health. Here's what you need to know:

According to the study, Burning incense sticks creates four times more particulate matter than cigarettes, while candles are a significant pollution source in non-smoking homes.

Why Candles and Fragrances Can Be Harmful

• Particulate Matter Pollution: Burning candles and incense sticks produces fine particulate matter, which can irritate your eyes, nose, and throat and worsen conditions like asthma.
• Toxic Chemicals: Scented candles release chemicals like benzene, formaldehyde, and nitrogen oxides, which have been linked to serious health conditions, including cancer.
• Higher Pollution Levels: Burning candles in small, poorly ventilated spaces can raise pollution levels to 15 times the World Health Organization's safe limits.
• Cigarette Comparison: Burning incense sticks creates four times more particulate matter than cigarettes, while candles are a major pollution source in non-smoking homes.

Tips to Stay Safe

If you love the ambiance candles bring, consider these steps to reduce risks:

• Use candles in larger, well-ventilated areas like living rooms.
• Open windows or ensure wall vents aren’t blocked to allow for air circulation.
• Snuff candles out outdoors to prevent releasing concentrated smoke indoors.

We know snagging one of those holiday-scented candles can be tempting, especially when they smell so good. Consider looking into essential oil diffusers versus burning a candle.