Lighting a stick of incense might fill your home with fragrance, but research indicates that it could also harm your health.
According to a study published in the medical journal Cancer, being frequently exposed to burning incense over long periods of time increases the risk of being diagnosed with upper respiratory tract cancers.
In the study, researchers interviewed over 61,000 Singaporean people, aged 45-74 years. None of them had cancer at the start of the study. Incense burning appeared to nearly double the risk of developing cancers of the sinuses, nose, mouth, tongue and larynx. Interestingly, the effect was consistent regardless of whether the person smoked or not.
Although incense burning did not seem to increase lung cancer risk, the American Lung Association is considering listing it as an avoidable risk factor for this disease, along with cigarette smoking and the inhalation of sidestream smoke. Smoke from incense may contain particles and grit that irritate the respiratory passages along with substances that are considered to be carcinogenic, like benzene. However, if you’re just an occasional user, don’t pitch that patchouli just yet – only people who burn incense heavily, regularly, and in badly ventilated rooms are considered to be at risk.
