Incense smoke: clinical, structural and molecular effects on airway disease

Abstract

In Asian countries where the Buddhism and Taoism are mainstream religions, incense burning is a daily practice. A typical composition of stick incense consists of 21% (by weight) of herbal and wood powder, 35% of fragrance material, 11% of adhesive powder, and 33% of bamboo stick. Incense smoke (fumes) contains particulate matter (PM), gas products and many organic compounds. On average, incense burning produces particulates greater than 45 mg/g burned as compared to 10 mg/ g burned for cigarettes. The gas products from burning incense include CO, CO 2 , NO 2 , SO 2 , and others. Incense burning also produces volatile organic compounds, such as benzene, toluene, and xylenes, as well as aldehydes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The air pollution in and around various temples has been documented to have harmful effects on health. When incense smoke pollutants are inhaled, they cause respiratory system dysfunction. Incense smoke is a risk factor for elevated cord blood IgE levels and has been indicated to cause allergic contact dermatitis. Incense smoke also has been associated with neoplasm and extracts of particulate matter from incense smoke are found to be mutagenic in the Ames Salmonella test with TA98 and activation. In order to prevent airway disease and other health problem, it is advisable that people should reduce the exposure time when they worship at the temple with heavy incense smokes, and ventilate their house when they burn incense at home.

Transparent air filter for high-efficiency PM2.5 capture

“…In this study, the PM is generated by burning incense. The burning incense contains PM above 45 mg g À 1 burned, and the exhaust smoke contains a variety of pollutant gases, including CO, CO 2 , NO 2 , SO 2 and also volatile organic compounds, such as benzene, toluene, xylenes, aldehydes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons 28 . This complex air exhaust is a model system containing many of the components present in polluted air during hazy days.…”

Adolescent lung function associated with incense burning and other environmental exposures at home

“…However, incense burning has been considered as a noteworthy source of indoor air pollution. Fine and ultrafine particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, other gaseous compounds, and heavy metals are emitted from incense burning 9, 10, 11, 12. For children, exposure to incense smoke has been associated with increased respiratory symptoms.…”

Emission of Fine Particulate Matter and Nitrogen Dioxide from Incense Burning in Shrines, Chiang Mai, Thailand

“…Secondarily, fine particles are created when chemicals react in the atmosphere and grow through particle-particle or gas-particle interactions. PM 2.5 is believed to pose the greatest health risks because they can go as deep as the alveoli [2]. However, Fierro [1] reported that PM 2.5 was associated with a 36 % increase in deaths from lung cancer and 26% increase in cardiopulmonary deaths and these risks are even greater for people over the age of 65.…”