The Ministry also urges consumers to inform them of existing candles and where they are being sold. "If we find that their sale is widespread we will be looking at having them banned," says the Ministry’s Trading Standards Service Manager, Tony Leverton. The Ministry’s local offices are listed in the phone book.

"People should look out for a silvery or dark metallic core in the fabric of the wick, or silvery droplets at the wick tip or in the melted wax when the candle is lit," said Mr Leverton.

"We are particularly concerned about these candles being burned around children, who are more susceptible to lead poisoning because of their size and developing bodies," said Mr Leverton. "Lead is absorbed into the body faster from inhalation than from ingestion — for example, a child putting a lead-based object in their mouth."

So far the Ministry has identified one shop in New Zealand selling these types of candles. "However, we know in Australia the candles have been found in discount stores or homeware shops, and were made in China or Taiwan," said Mr Leverton.

Ed note: the above article was taken from the Homeowners Soot Damage Discussion Board (see disc.server.com/Indices/41692.html listing below) and marks a growing number of countries concerned about the lead core wick candle problem.

Homeowners Soot Damage Discussion Board - This is a resource for homeowners & professionals who have encountered the problem of candle soot damage...what to do, who to contact, etc. Many, many links & contacts available here. The reports of sooting in homes from candle use have been steadily increasing over the last few years. This message board is for the discussion of problems associated with candle soot deposition in homes. Exchange of mitigation or clean up techniques, insurance advice, health concerns, identification of brands & types of candles is encouraged.

http://www.choice.com.au/ Your Rights View Choice - Candle danger. Australian study sited in Australia's Consumer Publication. Lead Wicks & How to Spot Them

www.insure.com/home/candles.html Are scented candles damaging your home?

www.glrc.org/archive/1999/october99/oct18_n1.html Do Candles Pose Lead Dangers?

www.channel2000.com/news/specialassign/news-specialassignment-990 914-005830.html

Channel 2000 - Burning Danger

www.seattleinsider.com/partners/kirotv/  Kiro 7 Eye-Witness News Consumer Reporter: Toxic dangers in candles?

www.seattleinsider.com/business/consumer/1999/11/candles.html Scientists warn candles may be dangerous

http://goodhousekeeping.women.com/gh/advice/good/gh102892.htm Good Advice from Good Housekeeping

www.pathfinder.com/drweil/archiveqa/0,2283,1608,00.html  From Dr. Andrew Weil's Web page: Ask Dr. Weil - Q&A: Downside to Aromatherapy? 

Downside to Aromatherapy?

By Dr. Andrew Weil

It turns out that some aromatherapy candles emit such hazardous pollutants as acetone, benzene, lead and soot. Since these harmful substances can impair the quality of indoor air, you have to be cautious about the aromatherapy candles you purchase. The National Candle Association suggests that you protect yourself by buying beeswax candles, which are cleaner and safer than those made with paraffin wax (the fumes of which have caused kidney and bladder tumors in laboratory animals). Also, watch the wick. A wick that gets too long while a candle is burning may be releasing soot into the air (always keep wicks trimmed to 1/4 to 1/2 inch). If you have noticed sooty deposits in your house, scented candles may be at fault. To find out for sure, try this simple test [developed by Cathy Flanders]:

As much as possible, you should also make sure that candles are scented with natural essential oils rather than synthetic fragrances. This isn't always easy since candlemakers aren't required to list ingredients on their labels. You might also try scenting the air in other ways. You can evaporate essential oils in a small vaporizer or incense burner, or dilute essential oils with water and spray them from an atomizer.

www.drkoop.com/news/stories/october/candles_lead.html From Dr. Koop's Web site: "Long-Burning Candles Can Emit Unsafe Levels of Lead

For some general information about lead, go to:

http://www.ccohs.ca/products/databases/samples/cheminfo.txt Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safe-ty - Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for lead metal.

Information about lead in layman's terms from BEES Environmental Health.

To see what the industry has to say, go to:

www.thomasregister.com/olc/atkinsandpearce/candwick.htm Atkins & Pearce, Inc. - Candle Wicking (the largest wicking material manufacturer in the world & a very prominent member of the NCA).

www.candles.org/questions.htm National Candle Association (NCA), USA. [Italicised excerpt follows]:

It is possible that a small percentage of imported candles on the market today contain lead-core wicks. However, the National Candle Association and the Consumer Product Safety Commission have taken strong action to remove candles with lead-core wicks from store shelves. This will help ensure that all candles on the market today use safe wicks.

If a consumer is still worried, how can he or she tell whether a candle has a lead-core wick? A consumer can determine if a candle has a lead-core wick by using this simple test: Rub a piece of paper on the tip of an unused metal wick. A lead-core wick will leave a gray pencil-like mark, while zinc or tin will not. It is important for consumers to know that wicks made with cotton, paper, zinc, or non-metallic materials are safe."