Lance Carson
Incense has been burned for centuries for hygienic, spiritual, and health purposes. However, recent studies have found that incense smoke contains hazardous chemicals, including benzene, toluene, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which can cause respiratory problems, eye irritation, and nausea. The smoke released from burning incense also contains particulate matter (PM) that can be easily inhaled and may have negative health outcomes. While incense smoke is not deemed a major public health risk, it has been associated with an increased risk of heart disease, cancer, and respiratory issues such as asthma. In addition to the health risks, incense ash and smoke can cause discolouration and damage to surfaces such as wood, furniture, or floors.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Incense smoke damage to paper | No direct evidence found |
| Incense smoke health hazards | Asthma, respiratory diseases, cancer, heart disease, allergies, eye irritation, nausea, dermatitis |
| Incense smoke chemical composition | Particulate matter (PM), gas products (CO, CO2, NO2, SO2), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) (benzene, toluene, xylenes, aldehydes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)) |
| Incense smoke sources | Sticks, joss sticks, cones, coils, powders, rope, rocks/charcoal, smudge bundles |
| Incense smoke mitigation | Use in well-ventilated areas, open windows, use fans, use air purifiers, explore alternatives |
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What You'll Learn
Incense smoke contains carcinogens and irritants
Burning incense is a popular practice worldwide, with many cultures burning it for hygienic, spiritual, and health purposes. Incense is usually made from natural materials such as sage, resins, oils, and wood. However, incense makers have started adding more materials to enhance their fragrance, ability to burn, and hold their shape.
Incense smoke contains toxic and irritant compounds alongside its aromatic compounds. These toxic compounds include particulate matter, heavy metals, formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, and a mixture of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The presence of these toxic compounds in incense smoke has been associated with negative health outcomes.
Particulate matter in incense smoke contains carcinogens and irritants, which could lead to respiratory diseases such as asthma. Research has also associated incense smoke with childhood asthma and the development of respiratory allergies. Studies suggest that incense smoke can also trigger chronic inflammation in the body. This inflammation stems from the body processing particulate matter into metabolites, which also causes oxidative stress.
In addition to respiratory issues, incense smoke has been associated with an increased risk of heart disease. A 2020 study found that burning incense may cause issues with brain health in community older adults over the age of 65. The study found that long-term air pollution caused by burning incense resulted in smaller brain and prefrontal cortex volumes, leading to delays in cognitive performance and decreased brain connectivity.
While the adverse health effects of incense smoke have been documented, it is important to note that the precise mechanisms behind these associations are still being investigated. Further research is needed, especially on humans, as many studies have primarily relied on animal subjects.
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Health risks of incense smoke inhalation
Burning incense is a popular practice worldwide, with many cultural and spiritual uses. However, recent studies have shown that incense smoke inhalation poses several health risks.
Firstly, incense smoke contains particulate matter, including carcinogens and irritants, which can lead to respiratory issues such as asthma and allergies. Inhaling incense smoke has been linked to an increased risk of respiratory problems, including bronchitis, bronchiolitis, and pneumonia, particularly in children. The smoke also contributes to indoor air pollution, with higher concentrations of harmful compounds found in incense-burning homes compared to non-incense-burning homes.
Secondly, incense smoke has been associated with an elevated risk of cardiovascular diseases, including heart disease, and an increased likelihood of stroke and coronary heart disease deaths. Experimental studies on rats exposed to incense smoke observed adverse metabolic changes, ultrastructural alterations in heart muscle tissue, and increased cardiac hypertrophy.
Thirdly, incense smoke can cause acute irritation to the eyes, nose, throat, and skin. A study of adults from six Chinese cities found that incense burning was associated with weekly symptoms such as eye irritation, throat irritation, and skin issues like dryness and itching.
Lastly, incense smoke has been linked to an increased risk of cancer. A 2021 study confirmed the presence of carcinogenic compounds in incense smoke, and incense use has been associated with a higher cancer risk. The smoke contains toxic volatile organic compounds, including formaldehyde, benzene, and toluene, which are detrimental to human health.
While incense burning has been a traditional practice for thousands of years, recent evidence suggests that it can have negative health consequences. To reduce potential risks, it is recommended to limit incense use and exposure, ensure proper ventilation during and after burning, and consider alternative options if concerned about health risks.
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Incense smoke and its effect on paper
Incense smoke contains a variety of hazardous chemicals, including benzene, toluene, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These chemicals can cause respiratory problems, eye irritation, and nausea. The smoke released from incense has a sweet, pleasant smell, but it can also contain particulate matter that you can easily inhale, which can have negative health outcomes.
In terms of paper, incense ash can cause damage to surfaces such as wood, furniture, or floors. Ashes and smoke can cause discolouration on some surfaces. Therefore, it is safe to assume that incense smoke can cause discolouration on paper. However, there is no evidence that incense smoke can cause any other type of damage to paper.
Burning incense releases toxic VOCs and conventionally undetectable PM, which heightens vulnerability to multiple sensitive inflammatory stress–driven responses. Major body organs affected by such responses are the eyes, nose, throat, and skin. A 1987 study reported a 63-year-old man accustomed to incense burning for 15 years who developed itchy depigmented patches on his left dorsum manus, left shoulder, and abdomen.
In 2021, a study by Niu et al. examined the harmful effects of five tobacco varieties and incense in Hong Kong using an environmental chamber. The emission-factor profiling of environmental tobacco smoke showed higher values than incense smoke. However, both sources had major effects, including oxidative damage, inflammatory aggravation, and activation of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine, TNFα, and IL6. High–molecular weight PAHs from incense combustion exhibited stronger correlations with DNA-damage markers, while almost all indoor PAH sources contributed to aggravated inflammation. Tobacco smoking and incense burning posed critical risks to the alveolar epithelium within the distal human respiratory tract, indicating enhanced cytotoxicity and lung cancer risk.
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Incense composition and its impact on combustion
Incense is an aromatic biotic material that releases fragrant smoke when burnt. The term is used for both the material and the aroma. Incense is composed of aromatic plant materials, often combined with essential oils. The forms taken by incense differ with the underlying culture, and have changed with advances in technology and increasing uses.
Incense can be separated into two main types: "indirect-burning" and "direct-burning". Indirect-burning incense, also called "non-combustible incense", is an aromatic material or combination of materials, such as resins, that does not contain combustible material and so requires a separate heat source. Direct-burning incense, also called "combustible incense", is lit directly by a flame. The glowing ember on the incense will continue to smoulder and burn the rest of the incense without further application of external heat or flame.
The composition of incense must be adjusted to provide fragrance in the proper concentration and to ensure even burning. The direct-burning type is made from a mouldable substrate of fragrant finely ground (or liquid) incense materials and odourless binder. The indirect-burning type requires a separate heat source, traditionally provided by charcoal or glowing embers.
Charcoal-based incense is similar to black powder, though it lacks the sulphur. Natural plant-based binders such as gum arabic or gum tragacanth are used to bind the mixture together. The dry binding powder usually comprises about 10% of the dry weight in the finished incense. The moisture content, particle mass, glass composition, and the relative proportion of unburnt carbon particles depend on the coal-combustion temperature, coal-pulverisation size, and combustion rate.
Incense smoke contains toxic and irritant compounds alongside its aromatic compounds. These include formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, and a mixture of PAHs, which have been linked to detrimental health effects. Incense smoke has been associated with an increased risk of respiratory diseases such as asthma, heart disease, and cancer.
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Minimising the health risks of incense smoke
Incense smoke contains a variety of toxic and irritant compounds, including particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, and poisonous gases such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen, and sulphur oxides. These compounds can be easily inhaled and may lead to negative health outcomes. Here are some ways to minimise the health risks associated with incense smoke:
Reduce Incense Use and Exposure:
Limit the amount of incense you burn and the frequency of burning. The less incense smoke you produce, the lower the risk of inhaling harmful compounds.
Improve Ventilation:
Open windows during and after burning incense to ventilate the area. Proper ventilation helps disperse the smoke and reduces the concentration of harmful compounds in the air you breathe.
Explore Alternative Options:
If you are concerned about the risks of incense smoke, consider using alternative methods to achieve the desired fragrance or spiritual benefits. Some alternatives to incense may not be associated with the same level of health risks.
Choose Low-Risk Incense:
When purchasing incense, opt for varieties with lower volatile material content and lower carbon levels. Incense with reduced volatile substances will produce fewer harmful emissions when burned.
Burn Incense Outdoors:
Burning incense in open, outdoor areas can help minimise the concentration of smoke and harmful compounds in enclosed spaces. However, be mindful of the environmental impact and avoid burning incense near plants, as even small amounts of certain compounds can be harmful to them.
Be Mindful of Health Conditions:
If you have existing health conditions, such as asthma, respiratory issues, or cardiovascular diseases, be particularly cautious about incense use. The smoke can trigger asthma and respiratory symptoms and has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease.
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Frequently asked questions
Incense smoke contains hazardous chemicals, including benzene, toluene, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which can cause discolouration on some surfaces. However, there is no direct evidence that it damages paper. Nevertheless, it is advisable to keep burning incense away from paper or other flammable materials to prevent fire hazards.
Incense smoke contains particulate matter (PM), gas products, and organic compounds, which can cause respiratory problems, eye irritation, and nausea. Studies have also linked incense smoke to an increased risk of asthma, allergies, heart disease, and cancer.
To reduce exposure to incense smoke, it is recommended to burn incense in a well-ventilated area and avoid confined spaces. Opening windows or using a fan can help disperse the smoke and reduce the concentration of hazardous chemicals. It is also advisable to use high-quality, natural incense sticks, as cheaper alternatives often contain lower-quality materials that produce more harmful smoke.
