Candles and aromatics, such as room and car fresheners, are some of the products which can cause toxicity, or even death to our birds. There are little or no regulations imposed on candle manufacturers. They are not compelled to list or disclose hazardous, toxic or carcinogenic compounds used as ingredients in their products. The consumer of candles and aromatics is given the impression that burning candles will enhance or even improve the quality of their home's environment, while they are not privvy to the makeup of those products which could prove hazardous, if not to the human members of a household, then to the pets residing in the household, by compromising air quality.

Some candle manufacturers still use lead core wicks. When heated, lead emits VOCs; Volatile Organic Chemicals. You may be familiar with VOCs if you have read a paint can label. (VOCs) are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short and long term adverse health effects. Concentrations of many VOCs are consistently higher indoors, (up to ten times higher), than outdoors.

Also associated with candle burning is BSD, (Black Soot Deposition). Soot is a product of incomplete combustion of carbon-containing fuels, usually petroleum-based. Most consumers assume that candles cannot produce enough soot to cause damaging BSD, but in fact, soot production from certain candles can be significant and may cause indoor levels of airborne soot to exceed concentrations allowed in outside air by the Environmental Protection Agency of the Federal Government.

While the soot is suspended in the air, occupants are at risk of inhalation exposure. Since soot particles are less than 1 micron (mm) in diameter, they potentially can penetrate the deepest areas of the lung. While some studies have looked at the health risks associated with microscopic soot generated from diesel exhaust and factory emissions, none have considered the residential exposure due to candles.

Plug-in, hanging, or stick-on air fresheners can prove fatal to birds. Essential oils, especially when heated, are also dangerous to our birds. An essential oil may or may not be"natural". Essential oil is simply what is left after the extraction process. It is the concentration of the essential oil and it's make-up, which can compromise the avian respiratory system.

Common sense dictates that we should not apply essential oils, or other foreign substances which are not vet recommended, topically, on on our birds. Any substance applied topically will be injested when the bird preens. But we must understand that inhalation can prove just as problematic, if not fatal. When essential oils or scents are inhaled, the components enter the bloodstream via the lungs, and need to be metabolized in the liver. Again, one needs to understand that the avian respiratory system runs through the avian body in a more complex way to allow for flight. Any thing inhaled will go farther and deeper into the avian system than it will in the human system, or in the non flighted animal structure. The anatomy of a bird does not change when we limit flight ability. Any thing breathed in will still run through the bird's anatomy.

On the FEATHERED FUN - SAFETY FIRST page, there is a section entitled "Some products you may not want to spend your money on". One of the things listed is aromatic shavings sold as bedding. Avian veterinarians and avian specialists have warned against the use of aromatic shavings as bedding, largely because of the risk of crop impaction, should a bird injest the shavings. They have also become concerned that fumes emitted from aromatic shavings, such as pine, cedar, redwood and pressure - treated wood shavings are toxic to birds because these shavings contain aromatic hydrocarbons. Aromatic hydrocarbons have been linked to changes in liver functions in rodents and rabbits. Aromatic hydrocarbons are also carcinogenic (cancer forming) if exposed with sufficient concentration and exposure time.

SOLUTIONS

The general rule: any item that releases strong fumes to scent a room should not be used while a bird is in the airspace, or shared airspace; (ie, heating ducts and vents can make airspace shared) . Before returning your bird to the space, ensure that it is free of residual chemicals.

Common sense is the best approach: if in doubt about an item or product, don't use it around your bird.

If you are a bird owner and must burn candles, avoid those with metal wick bases, and scented candles in particular. All candles emit BSD, even "natural" beeswax candles.

"natural" looking potpourri bought in the stores can be artificially made. Heating cinnamon sticks, cloves, and other sweet spices in a pot on the stove to scent your house is as effective as store purchased potpourri, withouth the oils.