Is burning scented candles to relax in a closed room harmful to health?

Specialist Doctor Ho Thanh Lich, Deputy Head of the Department of Intensive Care - Emergency, Nam Sai Gon International General Hospital, shared that candles create volatile organic compounds, also known as carbon compounds, which can easily turn into gas at room temperature, but they evaporate almost immediately. However, if used in a closed room without air circulation, it will potentially pose many health risks. In products made from burning scented candles, formaldehyde is a notable substance. Because this compound is warned by health organizations and ranked as a toxic chemical that affects human health.

Formaldehyde is a colorless organic compound with a pungent, unpleasant odor, the chemical formula is CH ₂ O, this is a highly toxic substance. In gaseous form, if the formaldehyde concentration is greater than 0.1 ppm in the air, it will irritate the eyes and mucous membranes, leading to watery eyes. At the same concentration, if inhaled, it will cause headaches, burning in the throat, difficulty breathing and can cause or aggravate asthma symptoms.

Cheap candles using paraffin wax derived from petroleum, when burned, will release some volatile organic compounds similar to diesel exhaust into the air, such as acetone, benzene and toluene... causing headaches, nausea, difficulty breathing, irritation of the eyes, nose and throat. If inhaled in large amounts, users may have lung problems, even increased risk of cancer.

If you need to burn scented candles, burn them in an open, well-ventilated space.

Doctor Lich recommends not burning scented candles in closed rooms such as bedrooms, bathrooms, and air-conditioned rooms every day. Because at this time the air cannot escape, it is easy to make you feel suffocated and have difficulty breathing because the _CO2 in the air is too high.

If you need to burn scented candles, you should only burn them in airy, windy places, but you should not burn many candles in the same place. If you burn them indoors, you need to open all the windows and doors. Absolutely do not burn scented candles, incense or spray perfume in closed rooms, especially with the air conditioner on, because the cold air will make the formaldehyde difficult to dissolve and also concentrated.

"People who have a habit of burning scented candles in their room should add some plants such as geraniums, lavender or ferns because they absorb formaldehyde very quickly," Dr. Lich recommends.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/dot-nen-thom-de-thu-gian-trong-phong-kin-co-gay-hai-cho-suc-khoe-185231122145238608.htm