We typically associate candles with romantic evenings, birthday parties, and the occasional power outage. But recent reports have linked these unassuming household items to toxic chemicals, soot deposits, and even lead. If you're concerned about the impact candles might have on your home's air quality, chances are you're not alone. Here, we burn through the facts and the misconceptions so that you can choose the safest way to illuminate your home.

What's the deal?
Prior to 1974, wicks containing a lead core were commonly found in candles, resulting in a host of reported adverse health effects. That year, the U.S. candle manufacturing industry voluntarily agreed to discontinue the use of the metal, which helped the wicks stand up straighter (these days, zinc, paper, or synthetic fibers are generally used for that purpose). Because no candles were recalled, however, those with lead-core wicks were still on the market. In 2000, the National Candle Association (NCA), a trade organization whose members produce more than 90 percent of all candles made in the U.S., asked manufacturers to sign a formal pledge against the use of lead materials. It wasn't until 2003 that the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), spurred by mounting public outcry and scientific evidence, banned the sale of lead-core wicks, most of which had been imported from China.

What's the risk?
The NCA says the chances of purchasing a lead-wick candle from your favorite retailer nowadays are pretty slim. But what about those forgotten candles packed away in the attic, or tucked into the far corners of your cupboard? "There still could be candles sitting in people's closets and shelves unused that could have lead wicks," says Robert Moffitt, communications director for the American Lung Association's Health House program, which was created to educate people about how to improve their home's indoor air quality. "It's hard to tell where a candle comes from and what process has been used."

What you can do
If you suspect that a candle contains lead in its wick, Moffitt suggests rubbing the wick across a piece of white paper. If the wick leaves behind a silvery mark similar to that of a pencil, get rid of it ASAP. Opt for an all-cotton wick if the thought of burning any type of metal in your home makes you uncomfortable.

What's the deal?
All waxes are hydrocarbon-based, and therefore burn in the same manner, generating carbon dioxide and water vapor in the process. Several sources, however, raise questions about the safety of paraffin wax, saying that burning paraffin candles is equivalent to burning crude oil. Additionally, a 2001 report on candles and incense released by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stated that burning candles emit trace amounts of organic compounds, including acetaldehyde and formaldehyde-chemicals that the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) lists as carcinogenic.

What's the risk?
"There's no such thing as zero risk," says Barbara Miller, a spokesperson for the NCA. "You will also find these [organic chemicals] in beeswax, soy wax, and palm wax, but none of them are remotely close to any sort of harmful level."

Jim Rossiter, founder of Way Out Wax, a candle company specializing in soy-based products, first entered the candle business as a purveyor of paraffin candles, with suppliers such as Chevron and Mobil. According to Rossiter, additives such as dyes and fragrances contribute to toxicity-not the wax. "The confusion that people have with paraffin is that they hear it's from the petroleum-refining industry, so they lump it in and think it's crude oil or gasoline," he says. "Paraffin is not toxic."

What you can do
According to ALA Health House, there is no such thing as a pollution-free candle. If you're concerned about sustainability, though, go for renewable waxes such as soy, beeswax, and palm. "If you're going to burn candles in your home," Moffitt says, "try to limit it, because every candle you light adds to the pollution load in the home." Moffitt advises die-hard candle lovers to purchase a high-efficiency air filter with a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) rating of 10 or higher to trap some of the fine particulates that candles can release into the air.

What's the deal?
Raw wax doesn't naturally smell like eucalyptus, clean linens, or pumpkin pie. To produce these aromas, candle manufacturers use a combination of natural and synthetic fragrances-and that reliance on synthetics has caused some controversy in the candle industry. In fact, sources say artificial fragrances have been increasingly added to candle waxes, despite evidence that they release into the air toxins such as benzene-a chemical that Moffitt points out is found in gasoline and gasoline fumes.

What's the risk?
Allergy sufferers should be cautious. Philip Ranheim, a medical doctor in Lake Stevens, WA, and president-elect of the American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM), says that burning candles may be hazardous for people who are typically sensitive to strong odors. "People that might react to other chemicals, like perfumes, auto exhaust, or tobacco smoke, get exposed to the candle fragrance, and they may get a migraine headache, eye irritation, nasal burning, or asthma," he explains. Some people may even have neurological reactions, dizziness, or what Dr. Ranheim refers to as brain fog-characterized by difficulty thinking, remembering, and making decisions.

What you can do
Since manufacturers are not required to list the ingredients used in the candle-making process, it's impossible to be 100 percent certain that the candle you're burning contains only pure and natural essential oils. The NCA, however, argues that the Research Institute for Fragrance Materials (RIFM) regularly conducts toxicological and dermatological tests on fragrance ingredients, thereby ensuring their safety. If you're prone to allergies, shop for an unscented candle just to be safe, and always burn candles in a well-ventilated area.

What's the deal?
The 2001 EPA report addressed candle soot's contribution to black soot deposition (BSD), which is the result of "incomplete combustion of carbon-containing fuels," and is often attributed to frequent candle burning.

What's the risk?
Scented candles, the EPA says, are more likely to give off soot than unscented, causing soot deposits to accumulate and potentially damage property in the home. When these particles are airborne, they can lead to respiratory ailments. Any time a flame's stable shape is disturbed-because the wick is too long or because the candle is in the path of a draft-unburned carbon particles will escape from the flame before they can be consumed. "All candles will produce some soot," the NCA's Miller says, "but a well-made candle will burn with virtually no visible smoke."

What you can do
To avoid contributing to soot deposits, the NCA suggests trimming wicks to 1/4 inch before each use, and keeping candles away from air currents, drafts, and vents. A flickering or smoking flame means the candle isn't burning properly and should be extinguished. Before relighting, allow the candle to cool off, trim its wick, and move it to a draft-free location.

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