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Candles
add a pleasant smell and nice atmosphere to almost any room, but a
candle with a lead wick inside can make you sick.
Federal regulators recently agreed to ban the use of candles that
contain lead wicks, saying they can release dangerous fumes. They can
even lead to lead poisoning in children.
The rule will not take effect until the end of the year, but candle
makers agreed to a self imposed lead wick ban back in 1974.
Jim Peters, the owner of The New Millennium Candle Company said
the best way to ensure you are not buying a candle with a lead wick is
to buy American. Many foreign candle makers still put lead in their
wicks.
Peters uses other types of metals for wicks in candles that require
them. Jar candles, for example, need the metal-based wick to stay
burning.
Peters also makes candles with no metal in the wick. Which is the type
the Consumer Product Safety Commission Recommends.
If you would like more information on the candle warning you can visit
the CSPC
from our website.
Reprinted
from Channel 7's website
Our
Position on the lead core wicking issue
The recent decision by the U.S.
Consumer Product Safety Commission to ban lead-core wicks is a policy
supported by the National Candle Association. The members, who
manufacture about 95% of the candles in the United States, have agreed
not to use lead core wicking since 1974.
Until the U.S. decides on an all out
ban of such candles, consumers should be cautious of burning any candle that
contains a metal core wick.
Our understanding of the problem
with lead core wicking is primarily the health risks that can occur when the
candle is burned in a closed environment. A candle bought solely for decoration and is not
burned poses no immediate health risk. Of course these candles should be
kept out of the reach of children so they don't touch the wick or put
them in their mouth.
What to do if you have a candle you
suspect has a lead core wick.
1. Keep out of the reach of
children
2. Do not burn the suspected
candle in a closed environment
3. Burn the candle outside with
plenty of ventilation to reduce accumulating lead emissions
4. If you decide to dispose of the
candle, follow EPA guidelines for disposing of hazardous material
For future purchases of candles:
1. Check to see if the candle wick
has a metal core.
2. If there is a metal core, see
if there is a label telling you what type of metal is used.
a.
Lead
b.
Zinc
c.
Tin
3. Purchase
with caution
any candles that aren’t labeled.
4. Decorative candles that will
not be burned shouldn't have to abide by these standards, but they
must
be kept out of the reach of children.
Our wicking supplier
has informed us that
they haven’t sold lead core wicking since 1993.
Some of our candles are produced using
a metal zinc core wick.
In the future, all New Millennium
Candle Company candles will be labeled that the wicking is lead free and notices will also be posted on our website.
Thank you for taking the time to read
this important announcement!
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