Hard to imagine, but candles, chewing gum, cosmetics, cleaning products, sweets and shoe polishes have a common ingredient: kerosene, a waste product from the petroleum industry. Although the popular product is cheap and versatile, it also has negative sides. The central point of criticism is that the fossil fuel petroleum is consumed for the production of kerosene. Kerosene is also not necessarily beneficial to health. Especially during combustion – such as in candles with kerosene wax – toxic gases are produced, which can even cause cancer.
Kerosene wax in candles
When kerosene wax is burned, numerous substances hazardous to health are released, including alkanes, alkenes, ketones, toluene or benzene. These are released by kerosene candles into the room air and can thus lead to respiratory problems as well as allergic reactions. In addition, according to a study by South Carolina State University, this is said to promote the development of lung cancer. Candle lovers do not have to do now however automatically without the cosy, warm light. Who lights candles only occasionally and does not let them burn then also for hours, has according to the study nothing to fear. In addition, candles with kerosene wax should not be burned in small, unventilated rooms, such as a bathroom. When extinguishing the candle, it is advisable not to blow out the wick, but to bend it over and dip it into the hot wax. After burning a kerosene candle, the room should be thoroughly aired. If you still want to play it safe, candles made of genuine 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 burning.
Kerosene in cosmetics
Strictly speaking, kerosene is a distillate of petroleum and thus provides the necessary fat content for cosmetic products such as face cream, body lotion and lip balm. However, the effect of kerosene on the health of the skin is controversial. Critics claim that the fatty layer 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 frequently criticized. That is why many natural cosmetics companies do without the ingredient kerosene in their products. However, dermatologists as well as chemists cannot detect any harmful effects of kerosene in cosmetics. On the contrary, they emphasize the almost unlimited shelf life, low price and good tolerance of kerosene. The all-rounder kerosene thus remains controversial.
Care with kerosene oil: hand bath and creams.
Since the chemical product kerosene oil is highly fatty, it is particularly suitable for the care of dry skin. In the professional manicure, for example, a kerosene hand bath is one of the common treatment methods. In the kerosene bath, pure kerosene is heated to about 50 degrees Celsius and the hands are dipped into the hot, liquid wax. Once the hands are covered with a thick layer of kerosene, they are removed from the kerosene hand bath and waited for the wax to dry. Due to the heat, the care substances and the fat are absorbed well into the skin, resulting in hands or feet that are soft to the touch. Especially in winter, paraffin-based creams – such as milking grease – help protect skin and lips from wind and cold. A layer of milking grease applied to lips or cheeks before skiing or walking in the snow not only keeps the skin from drying out, but also protects against temperature loss and frostbite.
Kerosene in food
The food industry uses kerosene primarily in chewing gum, confectionery and to preserve cheese. In cheese, kerosene is often used for the rind, because it protects the cheese from drying out and makes it last a long time. As early as the 19th century, paraffin-based chewing gums were manufactured. Even today, kerosene is the basic mass, the so-called “gum base” of many chewing gums. As food additive E905, purified kerosene is used as a coating agent for fruits, vegetables and dried fruits, helping to preserve them. Kerosene is also widely used for chocolate and gummy bears to give the candy a flat, glossy surface. Although kerosene is edible and not harmful to health, it is not absorbed by the body but is excreted undigested. Pure, refined kerosene has hardly any undesirable properties and is classified as harmless to health by the World Health Organization (WHO).Nevertheless, before consuming it, one should be aware that the versatile additive is a waste product from the petroleum industry.