Certainly paraffin is presumably far safer than Berh's or Thompson's
waterproofing solutions. I never meant to imply that it was not.
The reason I was concerned about melting paraffin to coat wicker baskets
was due to the potential harmful emissions that MAY be released from the
paraffin. When I breathe the emissions of non-bees wax candles, I have a
reaction. Paraffin candles are heated via flame and melt as a result.
One may not be ingesting (sucking, eating, swallowing, drinking) the
paraffin from the baskets, but IF that paraffin is composed of toxic
ingredients, there are OTHER pathways where it may enter the body. I do
not know whether the paraffin that grandmother used on her preserves is
the same as chlorinated paraffin. I only know of my concern.
Scientists are researching various chemicals in their quests for the
causes of cancer. Yet, there are more than 70,000 different chemicals in
use by American industries today and most of them have not been tested
for their ability to cause cancer, much less the multitude of other
ailments that are increasingly harming people and other animals, such as
neurological, blood disorders, and reproductive and immune damage. Not
everyone contracts cancer, and not everyone dies of cancer. Some of our
loved ones die of autoimmune hemolytic anemia, a disease caused by the
widely used chemical, naphthalene. Others die of respiratory disease and
yet, they neither they nor anyone is their household has ever smoked
tobacco. If toxic ingredients are used to manufacture products, when
these products are heated and liquidified, can the emissions contribute
to irreversible ailments?
Until we know, I personally believe that we should try to use use the
precautionary principle whenever we make purchases, especially when
given a choice. I began using the precautionary principle when
purchasing products grown by the organic method, after having read books
by the late J.I. and Robert Rodale, and company.
If the precautionary principle were used in the United States, we might
become as clean and relatively pristine as New Zealand. But,
unfortunately, a myriad of American corporations that have aided in
poisoning the air, soils, waters, and the food chain around the world,
because they claim consumers demand their products. And, to make
certain that consumers continually demand their products, the contribute
monies to ACSH to keep consumers confused, ignorant, and controlled via
the mass media in the U.S. http://www.acsh.org/publications/index.html
We may or may not eat paraffin, sealants or water proofing solutions in
our foods. And, paraffin rubbed on wicker may not be a problem, but
melted paraffin MAY be another issue, depending upon its ingredients.
However, certainly, the chemical water-proofing solutions and house
paint are among the legally considered hazardous wastes when discarded.
''Hazardous'' legally means they are made of toxic, flammable, explosive
and/or corrosive materials. They may be toxic as well as hazardous to
our health!!
I apologize for offending anyone with my beliefs or dissertation.
Bunny Snow
Dear Bunny
Bunny Snow wrote:
....del...
> The reason I was concerned about melting paraffin to coat wicker baskets
> was due to the potential harmful emissions that MAY be released from the
> paraffin.
"Ordinary " "paraffin" is a prety bland substance.
"Ordinary" refers to
non-chlorinated. "Paraffin" refers to the specific cut
from the paraffin
series of "paraffins." This is the "paraffin" which was
used for sealing
jars of preserves. Walker showed the range of "paraffin
family", and the
apparent safety of the "USP Paraffin."
Burning of paraffin, as in a candle is another matter.
Paraffin is not the
problem here, but rather, the problem is one of partial
combustion. I am not
particularily sensitive to chemicals, but if I chilled
the products of
combustion of a candle, and then breathed them, I would
likely experience
health problems. I would also guess that if you rubbed
paraffin on your
skin, or even chewed it like chewing gum, that it would
not cause you
distress, even though you have an environmental
sensitivity..
> When I breathe the emissions of non-bees wax candles, I have a
> reaction.
This is a well known problem. The Catholic Church has a
Church Rule that
only beeswax candles are to be burned in a Catholic
Church, for the reason
that tallow candles were a real offender in this
regard. Aparently the
paraffin candle ppl were not yet able to crack the
Beeswax Monopoly. :-)
> Paraffin candles are heated via flame and melt as a result.
I don't think it is the paraffin, but rather, the
products of partial
combustion of paraffin in candles that causes the
problem. Complete
combustion of paraffin will yield only carbon dioxide
and water. partial
combustion can yield polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
(PAH's) These are bad
stuff.
Chlorinated paraffins would not be used for this
application. Simple
paraffin is very cheap, and readily available, and
perfect for sealing of
preserves. Chlorinated paraffins, if nothing else, are
inherently more
costly, and are more advantageously sold into markets
where their properties
are indeed an advantage.
> I only know of my concern.
I indeed sympathise with your environmental
sensitivity, and your need for
carefullness....del...
> ....If toxic ingredients are used to manufacture products, when
> these products are heated and liquidified, can the emissions contribute
> to irreversible ailments?
I think you will find that the paraffin used in candles
and preserves is
very close to USP paraffin, and it is very unlikely to
have anything toxic
or dangerous in it. Even heating to above its boiling
point would not likely
cause toxic compounds to be emitted. However, partially
burning the
vaporized paraffin (as in a candle) would certainly
leave the door open for
the creation of bad guys.
....del...
> I apologize for offending anyone with my beliefs or dissertation.
No problem at all!! I disagree with some of your
opinions or beliefs, but I
am not offended by them. I certainly apologize if the
mere strength of my
disagreement with your interpretation of fact came
across as being offended
by your beliefs. I also apologize to you and to anyone
on else on the list
who may have found my reply overly strong, to the point
of being offensive.
My only concern was with the facts of the matter.....
sorta like Spock of
Star Trek fame. :-)
Kindest regards,
Kevin Chisholm
Dear Kevin,
I accept your explantion for paraffin. However, wouldn't it have to be melted
in order to coat the basket? Would it be like the melted wax from candles?
Recalling my mother's canning days, it seems like food grade paraffin was
basically clear, whereas most candles are colored. Are colored candles
colored with heavy metals, which color textiles?
BTW. Apology accepted. :-) I feel much better now. I was beginning to think
I should drop off this list, because my views were too strong.
Bunny
------------------------------------------------
Kevin Chisholm wrote:
Kevin and all,
Bravo Kevin.
Bonnie C. Mt. etc etc
Hi Bunny:
Paraffin melts at about 130F but needs a temperature of nearly 400F to
burn. This difference makes for the presence of irritating fumes from
candle burning. These fumes could not be formed at the low melting temper=
ature.
Colette =
Quebec Canada zone 4b
Bunny Snow wrote:
> =
> Dear Kevin,
> I accept your explantion for paraffin. However, wouldn't it have to be=
melted
> in order to coat the basket? Would it be like the melted wax from cand=
les?
-- =
Colette Tremblay
Agente de Radioprotection
Universit=E9 Laval
Pavillon Charles-Eug=E8ne-Marchand, local 0167
T??l??phone : (418) 656-2131 poste 2893
t??l??copie : (418) 656-7176
