Spent nearly $200 on mycotoxin-eliminating candles (EC3 air-purifier candles) that purportedly reduce the mycotoxins in a room if you light them for a few hours and purify the air. Now I’m wondering, was I totally gullible? Is this stuff a scam?
It does have a lab report that purportedly verifies and backs it up.
I can’t seem to find that lab report. Could you please link to it?
Personally, I’d put more faith in a quality HEPA filter.
If you have reason to suspect you’ve got an actual mold/fungal issue in your home, you should get it checked out, as certain mood spores definitely are bad for you. However, the likelihood that one candle can effectively reduce airborne toxins in a room - especially a candle from a website selling homeopathic products - is very, very low.
Moreover, candles themselves are bad for indoor air quality.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/scented-candles-smoke-air-pollution
To be more specific about this: you can buy home mold test kits from places like Home Depot or Amazon that will give you some idea of whether you’ve got an issue that needs to be handled.
Are they, though?
Candles do have an effect on your mood.
I like the tall glass Mary candles. Surely those defeat mold spores.
Seems homeopathic to me. Though it appears to be rather large. Shouldn’t it be the size of a burned out birthday cake candle?
That site (along with a lengthy warning on “how to use a candle”) has a letter from RealTime Labratories, signed by Dennis Hooper.
GAH! Currently on travel, using my phone exclusively, and not really thrilled with the combination of the tiny keyboard and the autocorrect…
Ignorance fought, thanks.
As a general rule, whenever you see the word “toxins”, you’re dealing with a scam.
Exactly my thought.
If you can get past the checkered history of the author of that lab report, note that his lab’s test involved purported mold spore reduction in “a closed, well-controlled polystyrene container”, which doesn’t sound like a realistic equivalent to a room in a dwelling.
I didn’t see any mention in the report of hydrocarbon levels produced by the burning candle in that sealed container (chemicals like benzene and toluene are commonly emitted by candles, though probably not in worrisome concentrations for most people using them in a decently ventilated room).
The candle-seller’s come-on sounds suspiciously woo-infused, including the claim that air in which the candle(s) are burned will feel “lighter” and “fresher”.
A brief search shows a lot of companies marketing candles and other dubious air purification products (including a Himalayan salt lamp) to those worried about mold.
Unless these sellers can point to bona fide research validating their own products, I’d steer clear.
Would this be any use for reducing/eliminating/preventing mold
in a herb growing tent ? (asking for a friend)
Burning essential oils creates various compounds that are, on average, detrimental to your health.
The candle is, almost certainly, just soy wax infused with citrus essential oils.
So, to the extent that it harms the mold it’s also harming you.
If you do have mold, it would probably be an indication of high air moisture. Kill the mold and new mold would just grow back, so long as you haven’t dealt with the moisture.
You can get a humidity detector for basically nothing at Amazon. If you’re over the acceptable level then maybe consider investing in a dehumidifier.
If you feel like your air is impure - well, part of that is probably from burning things indoors - but a HEPA filter would be the answer. I feel like a real one might be pretty expensive, though, so I’d go the dehumidifier route, first, and only look at a filter if you continue to have issues a month after getting your humidity down to the right level.
These products may have a kernel of truth in their claims. I don’t doubt that the flame of the candle will burn up spores that come in contact with it. This fact allows the candle maker to truthfully say “This candle will destroy airborne mold spores.” But a candle flame is going to have too small of an effect on destroying the spores in an entire room. And any candle will be able to do the same thing. Plus, the site where the mold is located will be releasing spores and toxins into the air. I would guess that the moldy site will be producing spores into the air faster than the candle flame is burning them up.
To eliminate the problem of mold in your house, you will need to eliminate the mold and the moisture which is allowing it to grow.
And you can achieve that with a much bigger fire.
Yes, a carefully worded claim may not be false in isolation. Unfortunately, (as I’m sure you have realized and are stating) hoaxes, scams. cons, and fraud of all types are rarely based only such a claim. A truthful portion of a lie doesn’t mitigate the totality of an intentional lie.