August 19, 2009

comments on research into the health effects of burning candles, as presented at the National Meeting of the American Chemical Society

The research suggests that exposure to burning candles may increase the risk of cancer, as well as other ailments. However, scientists urged caution, saying that romantic candlelit dinners are not about to cause serious damage to your health.

Dr Joanna Owens, Science Information Manager at Cancer Research UK, said:

“There is no direct evidence that everyday use of candles can affect our risk of developing cancer. In terms of cancer, a far more significant type of indoor air pollution is second-hand cigarette smoke.

“When talking about cancer risk, it’s important to focus on things we have hard evidence for. Lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol, obesity, unhealthy diets, inactivity and heavy sun exposure account for a much larger proportion of cancers.”

Dr Noemi Eiser, Honorary Medical Director, British Lung Foundation, said:

“We would like to reassure people that occasional use of paraffin candles should not pose any risk to their lung health.

“However we would advise people to take sensible precautions when burning candles, such as opening a window to keep the room ventilated to minimise the amount of emissions breathed in.”