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US Candle Makers Ban Fails
Australian
Ban Cited in US Call for Candle Ban
By Public Citizen, Washington Feb. 24,
2000
Public Citizen is petitioning the
CPSC to immediately ban and recall all candles with lead-containing wicks, candles in
metal containers that contain lead, and wicks sold for candle-making that contain lead
because they represent an imminent public health hazard. A continued sale of these items
violates provisions of the Federal Hazardous Substances Act and the Consumer Product
Safety Act, Public Citizen contends.
Public Citizen in 1973 petitioned
the CPSC to remove candles with lead-containing wicks from the market. However, in 1974,
in lieu of a ban, the candle industry and the CPSC arrived at a voluntary agreement to
immediately stop making candles with lead-containing wicks. Public Citizen’s Health
Research Group conducted the survey, however, because of reports that these candles were
once again being sold.
"Unless the Consumer Product
Safety Commission immediately bans and recalls these candles, it will repeat the reckless
and dangerous mistake made 26 years ago in trusting the industry to take care of the
matter on a voluntary basis," said Dr. Sidney M. Wolfe, director of Public
Citizen’s Health Research Group. "How many more children will suffer lead
poisoning before the CPSC fulfils its legal mandate to rid the country of this completely
unnecessary source of lead poisoning? If the CPSC does not immediately ban and recall
these dangerous products, we will seriously consider bringing legal action against the
agency."
In the study, Public Citizen
examined 285 candles in 12 area stores. Of those, 86 had metallic wicks.
One country, Australia, recently
tackled this problem. In September 1999, Joe Hockey, Australian Minister of Financial
Services and Regulation, ordered a ban of all candles with wicks containing lead.
In 1974, Russell Train, then
administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, stated that "Inhabitants
of homes in which lead-wicked candles are burned could be exposed to substantial
incremental quantities of lead which, if continued on a regular basis, would pose a
significant risk to health, especially among children with already elevated lead body
burdens. In my opinion, candles [with lead wicks] represent an unnecessary incremental
source of lead that can be readily controlled." He is still correct, Wolfe said.
Quotable Quotes from Cathy
Flanders
"We must be the change we wish
to see in the world" - Gandhi
"When a boat is in dangerous
waters, one centred person with strong intention can prevent it from capsizing." - Thich
Nhat Hanh
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