Supers:
:01-:06 Gainesville, FL
:07-:12 Liz Petty - Candle Lover
:22-:27 Linda Kubitz Reporting
:43-:48 Marie Hammer - UF Home Environment Specialist
TRT: 1:24
TAG: TO FIND IF YOU HAVE A SOOT PROBLEM, UF EXPERTS RECOMMEND YOU EXAMINE THE RIM OF CANDLE HOLDERS AND AIR CONDITIONING VENTS FOR BLACK DISCOLORATION. OTHER CAUSES OF INDOOR SOOT ARE IMPROPERLY VENTED FIREPLACES.
'TIS THE SEASON TO BE BURNING SO LIZ FETTY DOESN'T WASTE A MINUTE LIGHTING UP HER HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS.
FETTY: "There are probably candles lit in every room of my house during the Christmas parties that I'll give during that year. So there isn't a room that doesn't have a candle in it, at least one and on the porches." (:10)
PEOPLE WHO SHARE LIZ FETTY'S BURNING DESIRE FOR CANDLES MAY BE GETTING MORE THAN THEY BARGAINED FOR WHEN THEY USE HEAVILY SCENTED CANDLES OR ONES POURED IN GLASS CONTAINERS. UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA EXPERTS SAY SOME AROMATIC CANDLES CAN PRODUCE 100 TIMES MORE SOOT THAN UNSCENTED ONES. AS A RESULT, A BUILD-UP OF SOOT CAN THREATEN INDOOR AIR QUALITY.
HAMMER: "Since soot particles are less than one micron in size, they are very small and very easily penetrate the deepest part of the lungs and according to research to research they can, these particles can stay in the lungs for a long period of time." (:14)
UF EXPERTS WARN CONSUMERS SOOT CAN AGGRAVATE HEALTH CONDITIONS SUCH AS ASTHMA. BUT THERE ARE WAYS TO KEEP IT CLEAN WHEN BURNING CANDLES. LOOK FOR CANDLES THAT HAVE HARD WAX, SMALL BRAIDED WICKS, AND ARE UNSCENTED OR LIGHTLY SCENTED. THAT WAY, YOU CAN HAVE YOUR HOLIDAY CANDLES AND BURN THEM TOO. IN GAINESVILLE, I'M LINDA KUBITZ REPORTING.