Wax melts are small pieces of wickless wax that have been infused with fragrant oils. The scent of these oils is released into the air when the pieces are melted in a wax warmer. They are typically regarded as more effective and safer than using traditional scented candles. However, a new study has revealed that scented wax melts may actually pollute indoor air as badly as a diesel engine! Read further below to find out more about how using scented wax melts causes significant indoor air pollution.
Scented Wax Melts and Indoor Air Pollution
The study’s team consisted of researchers from Germany and the United States. They found that terpenes, volatile organic compounds, are released by wax melts and interact with ozone to produce a significant number of nanoscale particles. The health implications of these [articles is not yet understood, however they are small enough to enter our lungs. Called nanocluster aerosol, previous studies have found a link between these particles and health issues such as cardiorespiratory disease. The smallest nanoparticles need to be measured in order to understand how airborne particles are produced indoors.
At the nanometer scale, the researchers are able to observe the first stages of the formation of a new particle. It is at this level that the released fragrances interact with ozone and produce these miniscule molecular clusters. The clusters then grow and transform, rapidly evolving in the air. The researchers used a high-resolution PSMPS (particle size magnifier-scanning mobility particle sizer) and a PTR-TOF-MS (proton transfer reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometer), to analyze the size of indoor nanoparticles. While wax melts are often promoted as being safer and more environmentally friendly than candles, this study reveals that this may not really be true at all.
While many people assume that scented wax melts are safer since they don’t release smoke or require an open flame. However, since they contain larger quantities of fragrance and mele over a larger surface when warmed up, they typically release more volatile compounds into the air than candles. According to the results of the study’s experiments, there are potentially billions of these volatile particles in your lungs after around 20 minutes of exposure. The worrying thing is that we still don;t know what effect these compounds have on our lungs.
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Altering Indoor Chemistry
Fragranced objects are more than just passive providers of pleasant aromas; they actively influence indoor air chemistry. The result is the creation of nanoparticles at levels that could have serious health consequences. While being potentially just as harmful to us as outdoor pollution, not much is known about indoor air pollution. However, the researchers hope that their findings will prompt more studies on the subject.
The same team were involved in earlier studies that showed that products such as air fresheners, disinfectants, and oil diffusers also give of considerable amounts of particles. The researchers further suggested that in the future, heating systems and air conditioners should be designed the indoor air pollution caused by nanoparticles in mind. While these scented wax melt fragrances may conjure images in the mind of beautiful forests and other pristine environments, the nanoparticles they produce may potentially be anything but healthy for you.
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