Paraffin

Hard to imagine, but candles,  chewing gum , cosmetics, cleaning products, sweets and shoe polish all have one ingredient in common: paraffin, a waste product from the oil industry. The popular product is cheap and versatile, but also has negative sides. The central point of criticism is that the fossil fuel oil is used for the production of paraffin. Paraffin is not necessarily beneficial for health either. When  burned  , for example in candles made with paraffin wax, toxic gases are produced that can even  cause cancer  .

Paraffin wax in candles

When paraffin is burned, numerous harmful substances are released, including alkanes, alkenes, ketones, toluene and benzene. These are released into the air by paraffin candles and can lead to breathing difficulties and allergic reactions. According to a study by South Carolina State University, this should also promote the development of  lung cancer  .

However, candle lovers do not automatically have to do without the cosy, warm light. According to the study, anyone who only occasionally lights candles and does not leave them burning for hours has nothing to fear.

Also,  candles containing paraffin wax  should not be burned in small, unventilated spaces such as a bathroom. When extinguishing the candle, it is advisable not to blow out the wick, but to bend it and dip it into the hot wax. After burning a paraffin candle, the room should be thoroughly aired.

If you still want to be on the safe side, candles made from real beeswax or soybean oil are a good choice. These are not only made from renewable raw materials, but also do not release any detectable toxic substances when burned.

Paraffin in cosmetics

Strictly speaking, paraffin is a distillate from petroleum and thus provides the necessary fat content for cosmetic products such as face cream, body lotion and lip balm. However  , the effect of paraffin  on the health of the skin is controversial. Critics complain that the layer of fat prevents the skin from breathing, dries it out, promotes wrinkling and is deposited in the internal organs.

The carbon footprint of the petroleum product is also often criticized. That is why many natural cosmetics companies do not use paraffin as an ingredient in their products. However, dermatologists and chemists have not found any harmful effects on health in the case of paraffin in cosmetics. Rather, they emphasize the almost unlimited shelf life, the low price and the good tolerability of paraffin.

The all-rounder paraffin remains controversial.

Care with paraffin oil: hand bath and creams

Since the chemical product paraffin oil contains a lot of fat, it is particularly suitable for the care of  dry skin . In professional manicure, for example, a paraffin hand bath is one of the common treatment methods. In the paraffin bath, pure paraffin is heated to around 50 degrees Celsius and your hands are immersed in the hot, liquid wax.

If the hands are covered with a thick layer of paraffin, they are removed from the  paraffin hand bath  and waited for the wax to dry. Due to the heat, the care substances and the fat are well absorbed by the skin and thus lead to hands and feet that are soft to the touch.

Especially in winter, paraffin-based creams – such as milking fat – help to protect skin and lips from wind and cold. A layer of milking fat applied to the lips or cheeks before skiing or a walk in the snow not only protects the skin from drying out, but also protects against temperature loss and frostbite.

paraffin in food

The food industry primarily uses paraffin in chewing gum, confectionery and to preserve  cheese  . Paraffin is often used for the rind of cheese because it protects the cheese from drying out and makes it last longer. Chewing gum based on paraffin was already being produced in the 19th century.

Even today, paraffin is the basic mass, the so-called “gum base” of many chewing gums. As a food additive E905, purified paraffin is used as a coating agent for  fruit ,  vegetables  and dried fruit and thus helps to preserve the fruit. Paraffin is also often used for  chocolate  and gummy bears to give the sweets an even, shiny surface.

Although paraffin is edible and not harmful to health, it is not absorbed by the body but excreted undigested. Pure, refined paraffin has hardly any undesirable properties and is classified as harmless to health by the World Health Organization (WHO)   . Nevertheless, before consumption, one should be aware that the versatile additive is a waste product from the oil industry.