White Paper Document: Paraffin Wax

Paraffin wax is a by-product of the crude oil refining process. Crude oil isn’t automatically usable as soon as it is collected. It is made up of a lot of chemical compounds, so it has to be refined to remove those compounds and turn the oil into a usable product. Paraffin wax is just one of the chemical compounds that is naturally found in crude oil and the oil isn’t usable with the wax in it. To remove it, crude oil has to undergo dewaxing. Once the wax has been removed from the crude oil, the wax undergoes further processing to be used for different products. The way that it is processed just depends on the particular product. (Citizensustainable, 2023)

Crude oil is a natural resource, but it is a non-renewable natural resource. What that means is that crude oil supplies will eventually run out if we keep collecting it and refining it at the same rate. If crude oil supplies run out, then so does paraffin wax since it is a result of the crude oil refining process. (Citizensustainable, 2023)

Since paraffin wax comes from crude oil, it is also not eco-friendly. Collecting crude oil can be devastating to natural habitats and cause pollution of other natural resources. (Citizensustainable, 2023)

Refining crude oil to remove all of those compounds (whether it be paraffin wax or something else) can also cause air and water pollution due to the amount of hazardous waste that is produced. Refining and processing natural resources also use energy. Since refining crude oil is such an extensive process and the paraffin wax and other products that are derived still have to undergo further processing, quite a lot of energy is used. Greater energy use can also result in the depletion of natural resources depending on the source of the energy. Lastly, when you no longer have use for paraffin wax, you are limited as to how you can dispose of it. The disposal methods for paraffin wax are not the most eco-friendly options. (Citizensustainable, 2023)

Since paraffin wax comes from crude oil – which is a natural resource – it can be considered a natural product. But it is important to remember that just because a product is natural, it doesn’t mean that it is eco-friendly or sustainable. It all boils down to how the product is collected, produced, and disposed of. As far as paraffin wax is concerned, we can determine that it is not an eco-friendly natural product. (Citizensustainable, 2023)

In most forms, paraffin wax is not biodegradable since it is a by-product of crude oil. The wax itself can take years to biodegrade, especially in large quantities. In addition to taking a long time to biodegrade, paraffin wax has the potential to release harmful chemicals into the environment. This is due to the extra processing that paraffin wax has to undergo in order to be made into useful products. It is entirely possible that some paraffin wax products are more hazardous to biodegrade than others, but the biodegradability of paraffin wax products also depends on other chemicals that are added to it. (Citizensustainable, 2023)

Since paraffin wax isn’t biodegradable, it also isn’t compostable for many of the same reasons. Again, a lot of it depends on the particular product as well as other chemicals and additives that the product contains. The safest thing to do is not to try to compost paraffin wax products. (Citizensustainable, 2023)

Paraffin wax is not recyclable, although it comes from crude oil just like plastics do. The stickiness of paraffin wax is not ideal for being processed through the machines needed for proper recycling. It is not efficient and could cause damage to the machines. Even if there was a way to work around the stickiness, it would require more money on the part of the recycling center to make machines that were capable of recycling paraffin wax. (Citizensustainable, 2023)

When you light a paraffin candle you initiate an oil combustion similar to when you start a car engine. Paraffin candles emit about 3,5 kilos of carbon dioxide per kilo. (Chemically Clever Island)

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is naturally present in the air we breathe at a concentration of about 0.037% and is not harmful to health at low concentrations. As the concentration of CO2 in air rises it can cause headaches, dizziness, confusion and loss of consciousness. (HSE, n.d.)

The main concern about the toxicity of paraffin wax comes when paraffin wax is burned. When candles are made of paraffin wax and the wax is burned, it releases harmful chemicals such as benzene and toluene into the air. Both benzene and toluene are found naturally in crude oil and are used as chemical solvents. So, if your candles are paraffin-based, you are breathing in these dangerous chemicals when you burn them which can cause other health problems in addition to cancer. (Citizensustainable, 2023)

These are the same chemicals found in diesel fuel emissions and are known to cause allergies, asthma attacks and skin problems. A study by the University of South Florida showed that candles made of paraffin wax emit low levels of benzene even when they are not lit. (IQAir)

In addition to releasing toxic chemicals, burning paraffin wax produces soot with particles that can remain suspended in the air for hours. The University of South Florida study showed that these ultrafine soot particles are like diesel exhaust in both their size and composition. They penetrate deeply into the lungs and are absorbed into the bloodstream. Ultrafine particles are associated with allergies, asthma, and other respiratory diseases, as well as heart attacks, strokes and even cancer. A study by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency showed that soot emissions from candles containing fragrances are significantly higher than those from nonscented candles. (IQAir)

In 2014, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health issued a warning where they drew parallels between cozy candlelight and passive smoking. The combustion of paraffin for instance emits toluene and benzene, both of which have been connected to increased risk of cancer and asthma. Especially blowing out the light releases large amounts of soot particles. Asthmatics and allergics are most affected, but these substances are harmful to all of us. (Chemically Clever Island)

Paraffin wax is commonly used to make candles and wax melts because it is generally cheaper to produce than soy wax. Since paraffin wax is derived from petroleum, coal, or shale oil, it has been found to contain known carcinogens (cancer-causing agents) such as benzene. CNN reports that researchers at South Carolina State University found that melting paraffin waxbased candles emitted toxic toluene and benzene, while soy candles & wax did not. (Happywax, 2020)

Toluene is a colorless, water-insoluble liquid that occurs naturally in crude oil. It is emitted from gasoline fumes, vehicle exhausts, and cigarette smoke. Toluene is used as a solvent to make paint products, nail polish, lacquers, glue, and adhesives. Benzene is also a colorless liquid derived from natural gas & crude oil that is used as a solvent. (Happywax, 2020)

According to Sensitive Choice, people with respiratory problems such as asthma, young children, older people, and those with heightened sensitivity to chemicals may be more susceptible to irritation and symptoms.

If your candle is made of paraffin wax, the headache could be because of the toluene found in the paraffin. The chemical toluene found in paraffin wax mainly affects the central nervous system in the brain. Toluene enters your body when it evaporates into the air that you breathe.

According to The Department of California’s Hazard Communication Standard/OSHA regulation, toluene can cause damage to the central nervous system, resulting in headaches, nausea, dizziness, and insomnia. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also reports that even the mildest level of exposure to toluene can cause frequent headaches, nausea, and fatigue.

The American Cancer Society reports that benzene is known to cause cancer. Rates of leukemia—particularly acute myeloid leukemia—have been found to be higher in studies of workers exposed to high levels of benzene, such as those in the chemical, shoemaking, and oilrefining industries.

Some studies by the American Cancer Society also suggest links to childhood leukemia, as well as acute lymphocytic leukemia and other blood-related cancers in adults. The American Cancer Society also reports that benzene has been shown to cause chromosome changes in bone marrow cells in the lab.

The National Toxicology Program (NTP), which is formed from parts of several different US government agencies, including the National Institute of Health (NIH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has also classified benzene as “known to be a human carcinogen.”

The National Institute of Health (NIH) reports that toluene exposure through inhalation or skin contact can cause long-term damage to the kidneys. When you breathe toluene, it is taken directly into your blood from your lungs. Following absorption, toluene is rapidly distributed throughout the body.

Inhalation of toluene—and subsequent distribution throughout the bloodstream—can also cause effects to the fetus in pregnant women. According to the Administration of Public Health in England, toluene can cross the placenta and is found in the fetus at concentrations of approximately 75% of that present in the maternal blood.

According to the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institute of Health (NIH), a number of case reports describe neonatal effects that have been attributed to toluene abuse during pregnancy. What’s more, the National Institute of Health (NIH) reports that exposure to toluene during pregnancy can cause growth retardation, premature delivery, congenital malformations, and postnatal developmental retardation.

The Centers for Disease Control reports that animal studies have shown low birth weights, delayed bone formation, and bone marrow damage when pregnant animals breathed benzene.

According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), excessive exposure to benzene has been known for more than a century to damage the bone marrow, resulting in decreasing numbers of circulating blood cells and, ultimately, anemia. The American Cancer Society reports that benzene has been shown to cause chromosome changes in bone marrow cells in the lab. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) also reports that benzene works by causing cells not to work correctly. For example, it can cause bone marrow not to produce red blood cells, which can lead to anemia.

Just like South Carolina State University reported earlier, OSHA also reports that you can be exposed to toluene by breathing it in. OSHA then states that repeated exposure to toluene can cause respiratory depression.

Acute exposure to toluene vapor can irritate the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract. With repeated exposure, the Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry reports that accumulation of fluid in the lungs and respiratory arrest may ensue.

Paraffin wax is the nasty by-product of gas and oil refineries with potentially severe consequences. Researchers at South Carolina State University found that two harmful chemicals, toluene & benzene, are released into the air when melting paraffin wax-based candles.

The Centers for Disease Control performed a study that found that chronic toluene exposure at less than 200 parts per million (ppm) has been associated with headache, fatigue, and nausea. Workers repeatedly exposed at 200 to 500 ppm have reported a loss of coordination, memory, and appetite.

In conclusion, the comprehensive exploration of paraffin wax presented in this whitepaper underscores its dual threat to both environmental sustainability and public health. Originating as a by-product of crude oil refining, paraffin's unsustainable nature contributes to the depletion of non-renewable resources and poses significant environmental risks throughout its production and disposal. Moreover, the revelation of health concerns, ranging from respiratory issues to potential carcinogenicity, strongly advocates for a conscientious shift towards alternative and eco-friendly materials in the candle-making industry to ensure both the wellbeing of consumers and the planet.