A Burning Dilemma

The same health-conscious homeowner who would never dream of allowing cigarette smoke inside the house might be burning aromatherapy candles with the idea that they promote a healthy, relaxing atmosphere. But burning candles could actually have the opposite effect: Scientific testing has shown that candles can emit pollutants such as acetone, benzene, lead, soot and particulate matter.

Cathy Flanders of Plano, Texas found out the hard way that candles can cause indoor air pollution. Flanders experienced a phenomenon known as "black soot deposition" after burning candles sold by a popular retailer. "Things started looking gray to me," Flanders says. "There was a dark film around electrical outlets, the refrigerator, the air conditioning vents and on plastic materials such as computer screens."

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