Candles are among the most cherished decor items in the house, turning space into a warm, cozy shelter. In particular, fragrant candles are spilled moods that, after lighting, can transport you-like a cafe canals, while the lavender flower notes bring Cottagecore charm. Due to its wide variety, presented candles also became a popular choice of gifts.
But did you become blind to their soothing aesthetics without knowing their potential health risks? A study published in Nature Communications showed that the main danger in health care in the harmless candles.
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Effect on the brain
Researchers explained that fragrant candles cause pollution indoors, which in turn affects the cognitive function. The pollution creates inflammation in the brain, which is responsible for the weak function of the brain.
The study evaluated the effect of particle pollution (PM) from candles on cognitive ability. Researchers have subjected 26 adults either to the polluted air from the burning of the candles or the clean air for one hour. Later, the researchers conducted tests and saw a sharp decrease in selective attention and emotional recognition after inhaling the contaminated air.
Selective attention is a key to decision -making and focusing on tasks and ignoring distraction. Socio-emotional cognition is a social behavior that helps people recognize emotions in themselves and others.
Researchers explain that the contamination indoors creates these cognitive problems. Regularly illuminating candles over time can consist of significant health problems. That is why the researchers emphasized their lighting in a well -ventilated area, as it can minimize the risk.
Other health dangers
Candle health danger is not limited to cognitive functions, they deepen into much more serious problems.
Christian PFRANG, Professor of Atmospheric Science at the University of Birmingham, said: “Gifted candles distinguish aldehydes such as formaldehyde, and it’s quite bad for health,”
Aldehydes can irritate the skin, throat, lungs and eyes, which potentially lead to headaches, allergies and dizziness. They are also classified as carcinogens, that is, they can cause cancer.
In addition, when flavors are lit in candles, they can release volatile organic compounds (Los), such as benzene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAV), both of them were associated with cancer.
According to Christian Pfrang, burning a candle, sets particles such as PM2.5, which can enter the lungs, as well as carbon oxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NO) and sulfur dioxide (SO2).
This further aggravates the potential risks of heart disease and asthma.
You can view fragrant candles as aesthetics spilled in wax, but you do not know that in reality they hide adverse health risks.
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