Synopsis
A recent study warns that aroma compounds from scented wax melts can interact with indoor ozone to produce potentially toxic particles, challenging the notion that these products are safer than traditional candles.Key Takeaways
- Scented wax melts may release toxic particles.
- Interaction with ozone creates harmful nanoparticles.
- More airborne scent compounds are emitted than from traditional candles.
- Research conducted at Purdue University.
- Further studies needed on health risks.
New Delhi, Feb 23 (NationPress) Aroma compounds emitted from scented wax melts can interact with ozone present in indoor air, resulting in the formation of potentially harmful particles, researchers have cautioned.
This study contradicts the belief that scented wax melts are a safer choice compared to traditional combustion candles.
Prior investigations have indicated that scented wax melts release a greater quantity of airborne scent compounds than standard candles.
The method of directly heating the wax increases its surface area, thereby releasing more fragrance—such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) comprised of hydrocarbons—into the atmosphere, as detailed in the study published in the ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology Letters.
Researchers are aware that these chemicals can react with other substances in the air to generate nanometer-scale particles, which are associated with adverse health effects when inhaled.
Nevertheless, the potential for nanoparticle creation during the use of wax melts was previously unrecognized.
Consequently, Nusrat Jung, Brandon Boor, and their team from Purdue University in the US embarked on an investigation into this phenomenon using wax melts in a full-scale house model that simulated a typical residential environment.
The team conducted tests on 15 commercially available wax melts, both unscented and scented (including lemon, papaya, tangerine, and peppermint), within the model house.
Initially, they established a baseline for indoor air pollutants and subsequently activated the wax warmer for roughly two hours.
During and following this interval, the researchers continuously sampled the air a few yards away from the wax melts and detected airborne nanoparticles, ranging from 1 to 100 nanometers in width, at levels comparable to those previously reported for traditional, combustion-based candles.
“These particles could present an inhalation hazard as they are sufficiently small to penetrate respiratory tissues and enter the bloodstream,” the researchers stated.
Furthermore, utilizing existing literature, the team estimated that an individual could inhale similar quantities of nanoparticles from wax melts as from conventional candles and gas stoves.
In their experiments, the primary VOCs emitted from the wax melts included terpenes, such as monoterpenes and monoterpenoids. The researchers found that the airborne terpenes reacted with ozone to create sticky compounds, which aggregated into nanoscale particles.
However, after warming an unscented wax melt, the team noted no terpene emissions or nanoparticle generation, indicating that these aromatic compounds play a role in nanoparticle formation.
“Further toxicological research is essential to assess the risks associated with inhaling nanoparticles produced from wax melts,” the researchers concluded.
