Incense fumes
Could do more harm to your health than tobacco smoke Suzanne Harrison - Jun 29, 2010 It's one of the familiar smells of Asia , from the temple to the family altar, but the next time you are surrounded by a cloud of incense smoke you may want to hold your nose. Research in Taiwan has lent credence to suspicions that the joss sticks and incense that are burned as offerings to the gods may get you to heaven far quicker than you'd like. Medical professionals have long suspected that joss sticks and incense - usually containing a blend of plant extracts and oils - emit harmful fumes when burned. Now, researchers from Taiwan 's National Cheng Kung University in Tainan say joss fumes contain particulate matter, gases and organic compounds that could be more harmful than tobacco smoke. "On average, incense burning produces particulates greater than 45 milligrams per gram burned, as compared to 10mg/g for cigarettes," says a report by Cheng Kung University ...