Could Incense Burned in Church Give You Cancer?
At a funeral service I recently attended, a minister burned incense near the casket of the deceased. When the pleasant odor reached my nostrils, I inhaled deeply—and then began wondering if I should have. Sure enough, research published this week suggests that breathing in smoke from incense may be harmful. I doubt my exposure during the two-hour service shortened my life span, but it gave me something to think about.
After all, many religions around the world use incense in rituals, and the substance often gets burned in crowded, indoor spaces with limited ventilation. Two years ago, a study (subscription required) found that a Catholic church in Germany contained high concentrations of airborne soot particles during and for several hours after services that involved the burning of incense.
At the time, sources told me that burning incense might put parishioners, especially those with asthma or heart disease, at risk. That's because particulate matter in the air has been linked to heart problems and respiratory conditions.
The latest study on this subject, published Monday, links long-term incense exposure to an increased risk of cancer of the upper respiratory tract. The study involved Singapore Chinese, some of whom may have much greater exposure to incense than most Americans. So the findings may not apply to everyone. In addition, the airborne particles produced by incense used in Singapore may be different from what's used in, say, a Catholic church.
Still, doesn't the finding suggest certain rituals involving incense may be hazardous to the respiratory health of their observant followers?
Tags: cancer | religion | respiratory problems
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Reader Comments
And carb overload with too many communions!
Churches may be a health risk. Wow. And if you live in Singapore, I'm sure the fear of incense-over-exposure is right up there with getting run over in traffic.
I am Orthodox Christian. We use incense routinely, and I serve at the altar and am usually the one in charge of the censer, something I've been doing for the past twenty years
Have I thought about this? You bet! I'm with Tony. I figure I'm putting myself at risk because no matter what else might be found, I am breathing smoke all the time. This smoke may not have all the bad stuff cigarettes have, but it's still smoke. It's a choice I have made. On the other hand, MANY, MANY, MANY Orthodox clergy and monastics live very long lives, so I don't think I am automatically dooming myself to an early grave either. I simply accept it as a risk I take. Who knows what other things I've been exposed to!
I am Orthodox Christian. We use incense routinely, and I serve at the altar and am usually the one in charge of the censer, something I've been doing for the past twenty years
Have I thought about this? You bet! I'm with Tony. I figure I'm putting myself at risk because no matter what else might be found, I am breathing smoke all the time. This smoke may not have all the bad stuff cigarettes have, but it's still smoke. It's a choice I have made. On the other hand, MANY, MANY, MANY Orthodox clergy and monastics live very long lives, so I don't think I am automatically dooming myself to an early grave either. I simply accept it as a risk I take. Who knows what other things I've been exposed to!
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