Scented Candles are a nice way to create a cozy atmosphere at home, however, not many people know that they can actually be hazardous and carcinogenic. This is exactly what new research shows.
Meghan Budden experienced this first hand, when she discovered something disturbing on her baby boy.
While nursing her baby, she discovered mysterious black dots in his nostrils. Meghan had no idea just how dangerous those black dots are. Meghan was unsure what might have caused the specks. She tried cleaning his nose and even after she cleaned it, it still had black soot in it.
Meghan thought about it and had a realization that it was her scented candles. She checked the candle box and on it was a warning in small print: “Do not burn more than three hours at one time.”
The scented candles had actually started to produce soot, which spread throughout the room and her little boy had no choice but to breathe it in.
Meghan shared her story in the hopes that it would raise awareness about the risks of lighting scented candles. Health consultants Cashins & Associates, say that the inhalation of small particles can cause cardiovascular disease, asthma, bronchitis, and other respiratory diseases.
About 20,000 people die prematurely each year in the United States as a result of being exposed to soot particles, says Cashins & Associates.
The soot from scented candles is extremely fine and is basically undetectable in the air. Experts say that trimming candle wicks regularly and not letting it burn for more than a few hours at a time, is a way to prevent them from spreading soot.
You should put the candle out immediately, If you see soot billowing up from a candle.
Luckily Meghan’s son is health and she hasn’t noticed anything worrisome from her boy’s health since the incident.
Meghan however looks twice at the warning labels on candles!