Could incense be more toxic than cigarette smoke? As they burn, 'sticks release compounds that are linked to cancer'
 When burned, incense releases compounds which can cause genetic mutations in cells, which can lead to cancer, a study found The researchers hope the study will lead to an evaluation of incense products. However they cautioned the study was small in size and conducted only in rodents - and so firm conclusions about the health effects cannot be drawn from it. And commenting on the study, Dr Nick Robinson, medical adviser to the British Lung Foundation, said it reiterated that many forms of smoke, including that from incense, can be toxic. Given the study's findings, it might be wise for people with lung disease to avoid burning incense, as well as parents with children whose lungs are developing, he said. When incense, which is usually made of bamboo sticks coated in sawdust and essential oils, is burned, particles are released into the air. If these are breathed in they can become trapped in the lungs, and are known to cause an inflammatory reaction. Until now, 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. DON'T BURN INCENSE AROUND CHILDREN, DOCTOR ADVISES Commenting on the study, Dr Nick Robinson, medical adviser to the British Lung Foundation said people with lung disease should avoid burning incense and parents should avoid burning the sticks around children. He told MailOnline: ‘Smoke from any source has an effect on the lungs, and it has a particularly bad effect on developing lungs. 'The main cause of lung disease is cigarette smoke, but there are other types of smoke. 'Biomass smoke, from cooking and heating, is a big cause of lung disease across the world.' He added: 'This study shows incense smoke has toxic effects, in a laboratory setting. 'In a "real-life" setting this might be different because how harmful the smoke is doesn’t depend on its actual composition but about how it’s used. 'People are usually exposed to less incense smoke. 'The sensible advice that comes from this is that people with lung disease should avoid burning incense. 'And parents should be careful burning incense around children. 'If you were going to be suspicious, you would say that this study is funded by a tobacco industry. 'I wouldn’t want people to conclude that cigarette smoking is as harmless as burning incense. 'The study is not novel, it’s another confirmation that different types of smoke, including that from incense, are toxic.' The researchers wanted to assess the health hazards associated with using incense smoke in the home. Led by Dr Rong Zhou, of the South China University of Technology, they decided to test the effect of incense smoke on cells and compare it to the effects of cigarette smoke. They tested two types of incense. Both contained agarwood and sandalwood, which are among the most common ingredients used to make this product. They then compared the effects of incense-smoke and cigarette smoke on ovary cells from Chinese hamsters and tester strains of Salmonella. Incense smoke was found to be more mutagenic, cytotoxic and genotoxic than the cigarette smoke tested in the study. This means it contains chemical properties that can change genetic material, such as DNA in cells, and therefore cause mutations.. Moreover, mutagenics, genotoxins and cytotoxins have all been linked to the development of cancers. Smoke from the incense sticks used in the study was made up of ultrafine and fine particles, and as they are breathed in easily, is therefore likely to have adverse health effects, researchers said. Taken together, smoke from the four incense sticks analysed contained 64 compounds. While some of these are irritants or are only slightly harmful, ingredients in two of the sticks tested are known to be highly toxic. Dr Zhou said: 'Clearly, there needs to be greater awareness and management of the health risks associated with burning incense in indoor environments.' He added that he hopes the results will lead to an evaluation of incense products and help to introduce measures to reduce people's exposure to the smoke. However, he warns one should not simply conclude that incense smoke is more toxic than cigarette smoke. The small sample size, the huge variety of incense sticks on the market and differences in how it is used compared to cigarettes must be taken into account, he said. The research, which was also carried out by the China Tobacco Guangdong Industrial Company, was published in the journal Environmental Chemistry Letters. - See more at: http://www.floridanewstime.com/regional/120672-could-incense-be-more-toxic-than-cigarette-smoke-as-they-burn-sticks-release-compounds-that-are-linked-to-cancer.html#sthash.5MbL4TXt.dpuf |
