Pollution : Burning Incense – The Risks and the Remedies

Burning incense ceremonially has long been a tradition in many religious practices, including that of the Zhongyuan Ghost Festival, held annually by the people of Taiwan. During this festival, the Taiwanese customarily prepare feasts and burn incense as offerings for the appeasement of ghosts. This year, however, the Environmental Protection Agency has warned again that burning such incense outdoors is illegal and will result in large fines due to the damaging effects of incense smoke on the atmosphere.
With the EPA imposing such a ban, it is clear that just as burning incense outdoors poses a threat to the environment, burning incense indoors is extremely hazardous to human health. While often marketed as a method for promoting a sense of peace and purifying the air, incense simply masks odors by emitting large quantities of particulate matter. And because these particulates have a mere diameter of no more than two and a half microns (a micron equals one millionth of a meter), they are easily able to avoid filtration and make their way deep into the lungs.
Upon absorption into the respiratory system, particulate matter may cause a variety of adverse health effects, such as headaches, lethargy, dizziness, nausea, and eye, nose, and throat irritation. These symptoms, when triggered by pollutants such as incense smoke, will become less severe and often disappear when the source of pollution is removed. However, with continued exposure, studies have shown that inhaling the smoke of incense can lead to serious illnesses, including asthma, dermatitis, and cancers.
Because of such serious risks, the practice of burning incense has recently received increasing attention. But while researchers and regulatory groups warn against the dangers, they also know that many will continue burning incense, whether for traditional practices or for personal enjoyment. Therefore, although discontinuing the use of incense is most strongly suggested, researchers offer additional suggestions for preventing the inhalation of smoke particulates, including ventilating rooms to outdoor air and utilizing negative ion generators.