Clipping Board » Environmental Pollution & Change ─ How dirty the human heart is, how dirty the environment will be...
China Times Electronic News
By Guo Jiarong and Tang Yawen / Taipei Report
August 25, 2014
Doctors stated that burning incense produces ultrafine particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or smaller, which can enter the human body through the respiratory tract, triggering respiratory diseases such as asthma. These particles may also deposit in the alveoli, causing inflammatory reactions that can lead to cardiovascular diseases or even lung tumors.
Yan Zonghai, director of the Toxicology Department at Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, pointed out that much of the incense comes from China or Southeast Asia. During combustion, it releases benzene, toluene, or xylene, which can cause neurotoxicity and lead to various cancers, including leukemia.
Additionally, incomplete combustion of incense can produce polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, among which the most toxic, benzo[a]pyrene, is carcinogenic.
Yan Zonghai noted that some types of incense used for worship are particularly thick and decorated with colorful patterns, possibly containing heavy metals such as lead and cadmium. Both metals can cause cardiovascular diseases, while cadmium may also lead to kidney disease and Itai-itai disease.
Chen Xianheng, director of the Air Quality Protection Division at the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA), expressed optimism about reducing incense burning. For years, the EPA has encouraged the public to worship without burning incense or paper money, suggesting that "doing good deeds in place of burning offerings" can be equally sincere and effective.
How much incense do Taiwanese people burn each year for worship? Chen Xianheng explained that since temples are not under EPA regulation and the amount of incense burned varies monthly—peaking during the Ghost Month, Qingming Festival, and Lunar New Year—local environmental bureaus can only conduct irregular inspections and offer guidance.
Chen Xianheng added that because burning incense and paper money are traditional customs, the EPA has not outright banned the practice. However, as most temples are located near residential areas, the smoke produced—containing carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter—can be directly inhaled by worshippers, posing risks to those with asthma or elderly individuals with respiratory conditions.
The EPA mentioned past efforts to promote centralized paper money burning, electronic alternatives, and reducing incense use from three sticks to one. The agency also advocated for "doing good deeds in place of burning offerings," encouraging people to donate money intended for paper offerings to charity, believing it would bring equal blessings. This aligns with the idea promoted by Xingtian Temple that "a good heart is as fragrant as incense."
Source: https:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ % E……1% 80% E7% 99% 8C- 215044198. html
Medical Field: Incense Burning Releases Benzene, May Cause Leukemia
By Guo Jiarong and Tang Yawen / Taipei Report
August 25, 2014
Doctors stated that burning incense produces ultrafine particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or smaller, which can enter the human body through the respiratory tract, triggering respiratory diseases such as asthma. These particles may also deposit in the alveoli, causing inflammatory reactions that can lead to cardiovascular diseases or even lung tumors.
Yan Zonghai, director of the Toxicology Department at Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, pointed out that much of the incense comes from China or Southeast Asia. During combustion, it releases benzene, toluene, or xylene, which can cause neurotoxicity and lead to various cancers, including leukemia.
Additionally, incomplete combustion of incense can produce polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, among which the most toxic, benzo[a]pyrene, is carcinogenic.
Yan Zonghai noted that some types of incense used for worship are particularly thick and decorated with colorful patterns, possibly containing heavy metals such as lead and cadmium. Both metals can cause cardiovascular diseases, while cadmium may also lead to kidney disease and Itai-itai disease.
Chen Xianheng, director of the Air Quality Protection Division at the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA), expressed optimism about reducing incense burning. For years, the EPA has encouraged the public to worship without burning incense or paper money, suggesting that "doing good deeds in place of burning offerings" can be equally sincere and effective.
How much incense do Taiwanese people burn each year for worship? Chen Xianheng explained that since temples are not under EPA regulation and the amount of incense burned varies monthly—peaking during the Ghost Month, Qingming Festival, and Lunar New Year—local environmental bureaus can only conduct irregular inspections and offer guidance.
Chen Xianheng added that because burning incense and paper money are traditional customs, the EPA has not outright banned the practice. However, as most temples are located near residential areas, the smoke produced—containing carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter—can be directly inhaled by worshippers, posing risks to those with asthma or elderly individuals with respiratory conditions.
The EPA mentioned past efforts to promote centralized paper money burning, electronic alternatives, and reducing incense use from three sticks to one. The agency also advocated for "doing good deeds in place of burning offerings," encouraging people to donate money intended for paper offerings to charity, believing it would bring equal blessings. This aligns with the idea promoted by Xingtian Temple that "a good heart is as fragrant as incense."
Source: https:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ % E……1% 80% E7% 99% 8C- 215044198. html