Incense emits smoke. It is made of natural materials and can be burned to emit fragrant, aromatic smoke. Scents and materials vary between different types of incense; for example, cedar and rose. Some are made of resins, while others use powders.
Incense is used to refresh the scent of indoor spaces, for spiritual purposes, for health, and for other reasons. When using incense, you will inhale smoke, just like with anything else that emits smoke. Recently, some research has been conducted into the negative effects of incense on health.
Unexpectedly, incense sticks and scented candles may be just as bad for you as smoking! Yes, you read that right. Dr Maninder Singh, a pulmonologist, suggests moderation because of the impact that modern homes with inadequate ventilation have on our health.
In an exclusive interview with Money Control, Dr Singh has thrown light on how incense could be more dangerous than smoking a cigarette. “Anything that burns creates smoke, gasses are released, volatile materials are released which are bad not only for the lungs but for the whole body and it’s backed by science. We should understand that indoor air pollution is much more damaging than outdoor air pollution. Incense sticks contribute a large amount to it”.
While speaking about the ingredients used in preparing incense Dr Singh stated that the ingredients vary from company to company, but the majority of it is a wooden or bamboo stick, with the remaining 30 percent made up of various fragrances. Furthermore, approximately 20 percent is the adverse, or the power that must be attached to the stick, and 10 percent is the harmful minerals and chemicals. When you burn it, it emits a small amount of smoke that contains extremely harmful particles, Dr Singh added.
These ultrafine particles pass through our ear’s defence system and cause oxidative damage, Dr Singh further mentioned.
Some of the harmful chemicals that are used to make incense sticks include dioxide, sulphur dioxide, volatile air compounds, toluene, benzene, and aldehydes as per Dr Singh. These chemicals also cause headaches, eye irritation, nasal irritation, asthma, and stroke, among other things. He further suggested that we burn incense sticks, maybe just one or two for the whole day.
Speaking about scented candles, Dr Singh stated that “scented scent is like scented smoke” and that when used excessively, it can be harmful. He also advised not to light more than four or five candles at once, and not to close any windows or doors.
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