With our doors and windows firmly shut against the winter or harmattan cold, lighting a few scented candles is a trick many use freshen up a stuffy room.

And with enticing aromas such as cotton fresh, mystic Orient, pine forest and spring meadow it is easy to see the allure.

But this act could be turning your home into a death trap as perfume chemicals can cause a dangerous cocktail that can kill, according to scientists.

Experts say the simple perfumes can mutate on contact with air and if rooms are not properly ventilated they can build up to dangerous levels.

Tests were carried out on six similar modern houses over the course of five days by Professor Alastair Lewis of the National Centre for Atmospheric Science at the University of York.

Firstly he measured the levels of a range of ‘volatile organic chemicals’ (VOCs) and found a series of subtances in the air, including benzene, which comes from outdoor vehicle pollution, and alpha-pinene, a pine perfume used in many cleaning products.

But the stand-out chemical was limonene, which is released by fragranced candles, plug-ins, air fresheners and cleaning products.

Limonene is commonly used to give a citrus smell to scented candles and cleaning products and is considered so safe it is also used as a flavouring in foods.

However, once sprayed into our homes it doesn’t stay as limonene as it reacts with other gases which occur naturally in the air to create something else.

Back in the laboratory, Professor Lewis analysed its reactivity, and discovered that on exposure to ozone - which is present in the air all around us - every two molecules of limonene could produce one molecule of another chemical, formaldehyde.

Formaldehyde is used in embalming and heavy industry. It is a known cause of cancer in humans and in high levels can seriously affect health.

It is most closely linked with cancers of the nose and throat, and at the very least, it can cause sore throats, coughs, scratchy eyes and nosebleeds.

Chemicals in air fresheners include include petroleum products and such as p-dichlorobenzene, which hardly evokes spring meadows or sultry spices.

But help is at hand for all those who can’t resist a scented candle or plug-in air freshener in the shape of the humble houseplant.

For experts found there is a small group of pollution-busting houseplants which absorb particular chemicals, including formaldehyde.

Formaldehyde is used in embalming and heavy industry. It is a known cause of cancer in humans and in high levels can seriously affect health.

It is most closely linked with cancers of the nose and throat, and at the very least, it can cause sore throats, coughs, scratchy eyes and nosebleeds.

Chemicals in air fresheners include include petroleum products and such as p-dichlorobenzene, which hardly evokes spring meadows or sultry spices.

But help is at hand for all those who can’t resist a scented candle or plug-in air freshener in the shape of the humble houseplant.

For experts found there is a small group of pollution-busting houseplants which absorb particular chemicals, including formaldehyde.

As part of the research, each house in the study took in four specially chosen houseplants for six weeks, while Professor Lewis continued to record the levels of both limonene and formaldehyde.

Over those four weeks, the levels of limonene in the air did not go down but scientists found the levels of formaldehyde dropped markedly.

The experts say the research suggests that some houseplants – particularly English Ivy (Hedera helix), geraniums, lavender and many ferns – were good at absorbing formaldehyde.

In the UK we spend nearly £400 million a year on buying a total of 225 million aerosols, plug-ins, gels, candles and incense sticks, to scent our homes.

The findings from the pioneering research project, which was aided by a team of experts from the BBC, were aired on Trust Me, I’m A Doctor, last Wednesday.

Last month doctor warned that E-cigarettes may be no safer than smoking tobacco because the process of vaporisation in the device can produce formaldehyde and other cancer-causing chemicals.

Experts said more research is urgently needed after scientific tests on the devices produced ‘alarming’ results’ suggesting cell damage by the process could lead to an ‘inevitable progression’ towards the disease, the journal Oral Oncology reported.

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3401454/How-scented-candle-KILL-Perfume-release-dangerous-cocktails-cancerous-chemicals.html

Granted bail? Or they collected money from him? Bt y are men this wicked and callous? It's as if he's taunting God for making him survive d accident. Dt man should b sent to d gallows for this.

Cool bt didn't work 4 me

vince001:
Edge browser ti take over

Even with ur edge browser, u're still @ risk as long as d old version of Internet Explorer is sitting idly on ur system. just upgrade to the newest version

Terrible! Lalasticlala, pls let's warn the others. thanx

Really a good laugh for the boring morning. Girls will always b girls! Attention seekers noni!!

One piece of advice @ OP, don't succumb to ur assumptions just yet. Take d job and see where it leads. it might just b d break u need bt keep in mind to throw in d towel if and when they start mistreating u. I thing oga Seun will agree with me. Thank me later

Like seriously?

I believe u sir. U learnt d hard way

Goodluck to them

Why is this yet to mk front page?
Lalasticlala, Ishilove?
Abeg do d needful! we've got to praise our own! Naija rocks jare

Op! there is nothing hidden under google. Pls google it mk u LeaveTrash4Lawma. U will end up confusing urself d more here

Now I know the reason they've been deducting exorbitantly from my acct for every little transaction I make. can't believe 105 Naira was deducted from me for a transfer of 500 Naira. I don de plan to report them to CBN sef. Mtchwwww!!! Yeye de smell

honfnj:
Wike a thug.. No wahala.. pls accept Buhari is a terrorist, Amaechi a thief, Aregbesola a Juju priest, Rochas a 419

I concur!

Op kingly post d steps u followed to complain so that I can follow suit. this people don thief person tire. thanks

nice epistle @ op bt pls I believe that every imolite deserves the right to know how much that was spent on such a project esp @ this time when workers are still yet to b paid for some months.

lallasticala, ishilove why is dis not on front page yet? pls do d needful. thanx

RIP to the dead. but me think it's high time these calamities are nipped in the bud. Govt alone can't do it. let all report suspected cases of people building with substandard materials to appropriate authorities. Govt on their part should provide affordable accommodation for its citizenry

Wow, how times have changed.
Lallasticala, Ishilove... Oya do d needfull

that man really is a propagandist. Hope his mouth does not put Nigeria in trouble

davidif: How can you arrest someone and lock them up for FIVE whole daaaaaays without any substantial evidence?!??!? Na wa for this country.
This country probably needs to overhaul it's judiciary system and while the they are at it, they should also disband and rebuild their law enforcement branch. This is sooooo embarrassing.

i recognise an ignorant fellow and a dunce when i hear one speak. What has d police got to do with d Judiciary? Or dont u know ur 3 arms of government well? Biko police is part of d Executive arm of government, spearheaded by d Commander in chief of the Armed forces via d I.G

Swit5: Rosary?
Who is d mary in roman cath church?
Roman. Cath- mary= morning star(kpakpando nke ututu).
Bible= Rev 22:16" it is I Jesus...I am d root of David ,BRIGHT MORNING STAR..

ANGELUS- 1,2,3,4,5,6= 6
7,8,9,10,11,12=6
1,2,3,4,5,6= 6
=666
Queen of heaven condenmed by d Most High God. Jeremiah7:18, Jer 44:15-18,Jer:44:25-26.. "d Lord almighty...both u & ur wives..made promises to the queen of heaven...I will see to it dat u will not prosper,but will be destroyed..I d Lord will punish u..."

Roman cath= mary ,intercessor,advocate etc

Bible=Jesus,Holy Spirit interceeds, Rom8:26" spirit interceeds..." 1jn2:1-2"we have an advocate...Jesus Christ..."

Jn14:14"If in my name u ask me for anything I'll do it"

1Jn2:12"...sins are forgiven on acc of his name"
Rem in mark7:6-7"This ppl...teaching human precepts as doctrine...u abandon d commandment of God & hold to human tradition"

On images & idols read deut5:6-9,Isaiah 46&47,Jer10,Acts17:29-30, Acts7:40-43,Acts17:16-24

Rev14:9-11"...those who worship d beast & its image. &receive its mark on their foreheads or on their hands they will also drink d wine of God's wrath..."

Obey d word of God in d word & not Roman doctrine.
What is d pyramid sign with an eye doing in Roman cath church. Open ur eyes. Obey. God & go to heaven. Obey d Romans and go to hell. Romans worship d beast. Romans are wolves in sheep skin.

Jude vs 10 "But these people revile what they do not understand and are destroyed by what they know by nature like irrational animals. . ." vs11 "woe to them. . ." see also 1st Peter 2 vs 12. (NEW AMERICAN BIBLE)

Be warned!