Clipping Board » Environmental Pollution & Change ─ How dirty the human heart is, how dirty the environment will be...
Update Date: 2008/08/14 13:05
Tomorrow is the Zhongyuan Pudu festival, a time when Taiwanese folk customs involve burning incense and joss paper to worship the "good brothers." Experts indicate that the volatile organic compounds such as benzene, toluene, and ethylbenzene produced by burning joss paper and incense are first-level carcinogens. Inhaling these substances can significantly harm the human body. It is recommended to "replace money with merit," using donations, good deeds, and hand worship instead of burning joss paper and incense. Doctors also advise drinking more water and eating more fruits and vegetables after worship, as these can accelerate the body's metabolism of toxins and repair cells. (Reported by Xu Yunxiang)
During the Zhongyuan Pudu festival in the seventh lunar month, many families prepare abundant offerings to worship the "good brothers." According to statistics, Taiwanese people burn 34,920 metric tons of joss paper and 4,190 metric tons of incense annually. Experts believe this not only wastes money and creates pollution but also exposes families to cancer risks. In fact, many representative religious institutions such as Tzu Chi, Dharma Drum Mountain, Fo Guang Shan, and Longshan Temple have already stopped burning joss paper. Environmental groups also recommend avoiding incense burning, using hand worship and merit instead of money, donating to disadvantaged groups, or performing more good deeds, which can be equally sincere.
Yang Wenlong, head of the Environmental Resources Research and Development Foundation, pointed out that the joss paper burned by Taiwanese temples, households, and businesses annually emits at least 42.4 tons of particulate matter, 9.7 tons of sulfur oxides, 461 tons of carbon monoxide, and 10.6 tons of nitrogen oxides. The benzene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons produced are first-level potential carcinogens.
If one still feels the need to burn joss paper and incense for peace of mind, Dr. Lin Jieliang, director of the Clinical Toxicology Department at Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, advises doing so in open, well-ventilated outdoor areas rather than indoors. People should stand upwind and wear masks when necessary. If only small amounts of toxic gases are inhaled, the liver and kidneys can metabolize them. Drinking more water and eating more fruits and vegetables can also help, as water promotes metabolism and fruits and vegetables repair cells. These are good methods to avoid excessive harmful burning substances and gases affecting health.
Source: http://tw. news. yahoo. com/ article/ url/ d/ a/ 080814/ 1/ 1427l. html
Beware of Carcinogens from Joss Paper and Incense; Detox with Fruits, Vegetables, and Water
Tomorrow is the Zhongyuan Pudu festival, a time when Taiwanese folk customs involve burning incense and joss paper to worship the "good brothers." Experts indicate that the volatile organic compounds such as benzene, toluene, and ethylbenzene produced by burning joss paper and incense are first-level carcinogens. Inhaling these substances can significantly harm the human body. It is recommended to "replace money with merit," using donations, good deeds, and hand worship instead of burning joss paper and incense. Doctors also advise drinking more water and eating more fruits and vegetables after worship, as these can accelerate the body's metabolism of toxins and repair cells. (Reported by Xu Yunxiang)
During the Zhongyuan Pudu festival in the seventh lunar month, many families prepare abundant offerings to worship the "good brothers." According to statistics, Taiwanese people burn 34,920 metric tons of joss paper and 4,190 metric tons of incense annually. Experts believe this not only wastes money and creates pollution but also exposes families to cancer risks. In fact, many representative religious institutions such as Tzu Chi, Dharma Drum Mountain, Fo Guang Shan, and Longshan Temple have already stopped burning joss paper. Environmental groups also recommend avoiding incense burning, using hand worship and merit instead of money, donating to disadvantaged groups, or performing more good deeds, which can be equally sincere.
Yang Wenlong, head of the Environmental Resources Research and Development Foundation, pointed out that the joss paper burned by Taiwanese temples, households, and businesses annually emits at least 42.4 tons of particulate matter, 9.7 tons of sulfur oxides, 461 tons of carbon monoxide, and 10.6 tons of nitrogen oxides. The benzene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons produced are first-level potential carcinogens.
If one still feels the need to burn joss paper and incense for peace of mind, Dr. Lin Jieliang, director of the Clinical Toxicology Department at Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, advises doing so in open, well-ventilated outdoor areas rather than indoors. People should stand upwind and wear masks when necessary. If only small amounts of toxic gases are inhaled, the liver and kidneys can metabolize them. Drinking more water and eating more fruits and vegetables can also help, as water promotes metabolism and fruits and vegetables repair cells. These are good methods to avoid excessive harmful burning substances and gases affecting health.
Source: http://tw. news. yahoo. com/ article/ url/ d/ a/ 080814/ 1/ 1427l. html