Incense smoke may cause same health effects as cigarettes

Beijing: Incense smoke contains chemical properties that could potentially change genetic material such as DNA and therefore cause mutations, a new study has claimed. The burning of incense might need to come with a health warning, researchers said. This follows the first study evaluating the health risks associated with its indoor use.

The research, led by Rong Zhou of the South China University of Technology and the China Tobacco Guangdong Industrial Company in China, compared the effects of incense and cigarette smoke. Incense burning is a traditional and common practice in many families and in most temples in Asia. It is not only used for religious purposes, but also because of its pleasant smell.

During the burning process, particle matter is released into the air. This can be breathed in and trapped in the lungs, and is known to cause an inflammatory reaction. Not much research has been done on incense as a source of air pollution, although it has been linked to the development of lung cancer, childhood leukaemia and brain tumours, researchers said.

Zhou's team assessed the health hazards associated with using incense smoke in the home. They went one step further by comparing these results for the first time with mainstream studies of cigarette smoke. Two types of incense were tested. Both contained agarwood and sandalwood, which are among the most common ingredients used to make this product.

Tests were run, among others, to gauge the effects of incense and cigarette smoke on Salmonella tester strains and on the ovary cells of Chinese hamsters.