Is incense smoke harmful?

Is incense smoke harmful?

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.

Does incense have side effects?

Incense burning is considered a major source of indoor air pollution; the amount of PM generated by incense can be up to 4.5 times of that by cigarettes2. Incense smoke is associated with carcinogenicity, increased cardiovascular mortality and respiratory conditions1,3,4,5.

Are cigarettes worse than incense?

Compared to the cigarette smoke, the incense products were found to be more cytotoxic (toxic to cells) and genotoxic (toxic to DNA). Of the 64 compounds identified in the incense smoke, two were singled out as highly toxic.

Is incense harmful to breathe?

According to the EPA, exposure to the particulate matter present in incense smoke has been linked to asthma, lung inflammation and even cancer. In fact, long-term exposure to incense smoke was found to be related to an increased risk for upper respiratory cancers as well as squamous cell lung cancer.

Is burning incense good for you?

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emphasizes that burning incense can indeed increase risks of certain health problems. This is especially the case if done indoors where smoke is most likely to be inhaled. According to the EPA, the risks include: cancer.

Is it good to burn incense?

The effect of good aromas, generated from Incense sticks has been shown to raise serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is considered a natural mood stabilizer and helps with sleeping, eating, and digestion. Serotonin also helps reduce depression, regulate anxiety and reduce headaches.

Is it bad to sleep with incense burning?

It is not safe to sleep with incense burning because it may start a fire; increase the risk of cancer, heart disease, and asthma attacks; and trigger chronic inflammation. Incense should not be burned near children, pets, the elderly, pregnant women, or asthmatics due to increased health risks.

Are incense sticks cancerous?

Some studies have found that burning incense indoors increases the levels of chemicals called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which have been linked to cancer. This makes sense – burning any sort of organic material, whether tobacco leaves, coal or an incense stick – produces PAHs.

Is it safe to burn incense in the house?

Using Incense Safely There is the obvious fact that incense is something you burn, so be careful not to burn your house down. Keep both lit and unlit incense out of the reach of small children and pets. If you’re asthmatic or have other respiratory issues then you should avoid burning incense.

Does incense purify the air?

Many studies have proved the antibacterial powers of incense sticks. They are known to have reduced bacteria in the air, disinfect, and at the same time, purify the air and maintain the same levels of purity for 24 hours.

What are the health effects of incense?

Incense sticks come with a whole host of health risks such as genetic mutations, lung cancer, asthma and other respiratory diseases, leukemia, heart disease, skin irritation, and neurological problems. Other types of incense sticks such as citronella and sandalwood are just as harmful.

Is burning incense bad for You?

Particulate matter in incense smoke not only contains carcinogens but also irritants. This means it could lead to a number of respiratory diseases, such as asthma. One study evaluated over 3,000 schoolchildren for asthma, symptoms of asthma, and burning incense.

Is Breathing in incense bad?

In brief: Breathing odors. Incense is a common part of many life experiences. It is not dangerous in almost all instances unless you have reactive airways and go into an asthma attack or bronchospasm when you inhale these strong odors.