Allergic reaction to bees wax

[The Stung]

There could be pollen mixed in with the beeswax, as pollen gets into everything and people are known to have pollen allergies.

Although it is rare people can have allergies to beeswax too:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31066083/

 

[fian]

we are not talking of bee stings are we?
Can you show me some hard figures on how many people have suffered anaphylaxia from handling beeswax?
Or for that matter - being in contact with trace elemens of OA?
let's discuss facts here not some airy fairy theories that have been dreamt up from goodness knows where.

Oxalic vapors cause the symptoms described. Yes, however that does not mean that it is the only substance to do so.
May contain beeswax oxalic acid. Yes, for two reasons (wax bleaching and varrosis treatment).
That amount is enough to cause the symptoms, I don't know, but I could assure you that during the candle-making session the preventive measures (mask, ventilation, etc.) were minimal.
As for a fire, three pieces are needed for a poisoning too (toxic agent, contact and allergic reaction). Finally, I cannot show figures for what is not measured or accounted for, however that does not mean that it cannot be produced.

 

[Karol]

The risk of allergy to beeswax is remote to the extreme. Being as hydrophobic as it is it will not cross the dermal barrier to illicit an allergic response unless and until it is emulsified with another agent. Oxalic acid is highly soluble in water especially when heated as part of the beeswax manufacturing process and it's highly unlikely enough Oxalic acid would remain in the beeswax after the rendering process to cause any sort of reaction. It is possible that beeswax might contain respiratory irritating pollen grain such as that from Himalayan Balsam but the pollen would be locked in during the rendering process as would any bacterial or fungal spores.

Sub combustible over heating or burning beeswax has the potential to form and release gaseous polyaromatic hydrocarbons which could very easily irritate the upper respiratory tract especially on top of any infection which may have dried the mucosa. Better ventilation, use of water baths for melting and better control of spills and direct contact with particularly hot surfaces should avoid this problem.

 

[fian]

To measure the hydro/lipophilic capacity of a substance, the n-octanol water ratio (Pow) is used. Values less than 1 are hydrophilic substances and values greater than 1 are lipophilic.
Oxalic acid starts at 1.07 for low concentrations and rises to 2.5 for higher concentrations.
Oxalic acid causes burns on contact with the skin by causing necrosis in the blood capillaries. For this reason, the use of gloves and a mask is recommended during handling.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Oxalic acid causes burns on contact with the skin by causing necrosis in the blood capillaries. For this reason, the use of gloves and a mask is recommended during handling.

I thought we were talking about wax?

 

[Sutty]

There could be pollen mixed in with the beeswax, as pollen gets into everything and people are known to have pollen allergies.

Although it is rare people can have allergies to beeswax too:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31066083/

As I read it that study doesn't exclude pollen within the wax being responsible for some/most of the reactions.

 

[The Stung]

On a lighter note, did you know that even bees are allergic to their own wax?

Whenever they make beeswax, they end up with hives

(Sorry, I'll get my coat...)

 

[The Stung]

"As I read it that study doesn't exclude pollen within the wax being responsible for some/most of the reactions."

Yes, that was my understanding of the study too. My gut feeling is that it's something within the beeswax causing the reaction, and it's probably pollen since pollen will get into all beeswax.

Can't rule out other known irritants like oxalic acid or pesticides etc, but if these were responsible I'd expect people to have problems with handling some batches of wax but not every time they come into contact with wax.

 

[Karol]

And if the wax is contaminated with other substances such as oxalic acid. In fact it is a substance that is added to whiten it. Oxalic vapors cause coughing, pharyngeal pain.
Origin of the wax and adequate protection.

Oxalic acid is not added to beeswax. It's used to 'wash' the beeswax and that process of 'washing' effectively removes contaminants which discolour the beeswax. Because the beeswax then appears lighter in colour it is said to have been bleached. This process would not work if the oxalic acid failed to remain in the water.

 

[Karol]

I wondered if anyone had developed a severe cough after making bees wax candles? Is so, besides not making candles, what 'gas mask' would you recommend?

How did you melt the beeswax?

 

[fian]

I thought we were talking about wax?

Yes, but that does not mean that the wax may contain oxalic acid, either due to varroa treatment, accumulation due to repeated use for new combs or for use in the wax bleaching process.
I also admit that the wax may contain other products, but the symptoms described in the first post are related to the inhalation of oxalic vapors that the wax contained during the candle-making process.

 

[fian]

Oxalic acid is not added to beeswax. It's used to 'wash' the beeswax and that process of 'washing' effectively removes contaminants which discolour the beeswax. Because the beeswax then appears lighter in colour it is said to have been bleached. This process would not work if the oxalic acid failed to remain in the water.

It is added to the water in which the wax is melted. As I have said before, the n-octanol/water ratio implies that the wax absorbs more free oxalic acid than water, the amount of free oxalic acid depends on the level of impurities and their nature. The problem in a chemical process with multiple reagents is that it is impossible to predict the result.

 

[fian]

Some of you may say that oxalic acid does not accumulate in wax, we could go back 40 years and hear the same argument for amitraz, coumaphos, fluvalinate and even thymol. When the wax analytics began to have inadmissible values, the cycle began again, discarding the old one and supporting the new product.

 

[Karol]

It is added to the water in which the wax is melted. As I have said before, the n-octanol/water ratio implies that the wax absorbs more free oxalic acid than water, the amount of free oxalic acid depends on the level of impurities and their nature. The problem in a chemical process with multiple reagents is that it is impossible to predict the result.

Sorry but that is just drivel. The partition coefficient of Oxalic Acid is 0.0279.

 

[Paddyg]

How did you melt the beeswax?

Using a Bain-Marie. Usual process. Using 3M 4251+, which I use for sublimation, the problem goes away!

 

[Erichalfbee]

Using a Bain-Marie. Usual process. Using 3M 4251+, which I use for sublimation, the problem goes away!

What happens when you burn a candle made from your wax?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

the symptoms described in the first post are related to the inhalation of oxalic vapors that the wax contained

Yes, but that does not mean that the wax may contain oxalic acid

better tell the OP to stop sublimating beeswax without wearing the recommended PPE then
How one earth do you think Oxalic acid contained in wax being melted at around 70°C is going to sublimate/reach a gaseous state to cause Pulmonary irritation when it needs a temperature of over double that?
Better stop digging butty or there's a danger someone will offer you a job coaching Boris Johnson for his next enquiry.

 

[Karol]

Using a Bain-Marie. Usual process. Using 3M 4251+, which I use for sublimation, the problem goes away!

I'd look to the Bain-Marie first. If it's not spotlessly clean it could very easily give off irritating vapour - from residual detergents in the water, beeswax coming into contact with hot parts, not using clean fresh water, mould residues etc. If the Bain-Marie isn't made from stainless steel but from a cheaper alloy you could even get nickel coming away in the water vapour. I'd also check the electrics if it's an electric Bain-Marie that you are using to make sure it's not shorting. Your A1P2 mask will stop all of these potential irritants.

This all assumes that you are using a commercial Bain-Marie. If you are simply standing a bowl in a tray of water and heating on a stove then you will overheat the beeswax. The bowl has to be suspended in the water to avoid overheating the beeswax at the point of contact between the bowl and tray. If you overheat the beeswax (without fully combusting it) you risk forming what are called polyaromatic hydrocarbons and they will be irritating and they will be stopped by your A1P2 mask.

 

[JamezF]

Using 3M 4251+, which I use for sublimation, the problem goes away!

Unfortunately you can't rule out the possibility that the mask is doing anything other than playing with your subconscious mind, kind of similar to the placebo effect. These effects can be quite difficult to pin down, especially if the victim subject is yourself.

James

 

[fian]

better tell the OP to stop sublimating beeswax without wearing the recommended PPE then
How one earth do you think Oxalic acid contained in wax being melted at around 70°C is going to sublimate/reach a gaseous state to cause Pulmonary irritation when it needs a temperature of over double that?
Better stop digging butty or there's a danger someone will offer you a job coaching Boris Johnson for his next enquiry.

Evaporation is not the same as boiling. The first one requires a lower temperature since only a fraction of the oxalic acid is transformed into a gas. In the second, all the molecules are simultaneously transformed into gas.
Well, oxalic acid dihydrate begins to evaporate at 101.5°C while its boiling point is 157°C. At 189°C it decomposes into carbon dioxide and formic acid.
That if there was only wax and oxalic acid. Any element can cause a change in the melting point (for example, slightly salty water does not freeze at 0-4°C).