Burning incense could pose health risks for people with allergies and asthma, experts warn

In many cultures it is common to burn incense for religious and cultural practices, including meditations, celebrations, and spiritual and ancestor worship.

A new medically challenging case presented at this year’s American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) Annual scientific meeting in Boston warns that health problems from burning incense for people with allergies and asthma can pose a significant risk to adults and children.

“Our patient was an 87-year-old woman with a history of asthma and COPD, who received oxygen therapy and presented with unexplained shortness of breath,” said Gomeo Lam, BA, lead author of the paper.

“A detailed history revealed that incense was burned daily. We advised her to stop burning incense, which the patient did not want to do, because burning incense sticks daily allowed her to pay tribute and veneration to ancestors. We subsequently advised her to use electric incense devices, which resulted in improvement in her symptoms.”

The article points out that burning incense poses health risks, including headaches, respiratory disorders, dermatological sensitivity and allergic reactions. Frankincense fumes contain carbon, sulfur, nitrogen oxides, formaldehyde and other polycyclic aromatic volatile compounds that are carcinogenic. Per gram burned, the amount of particulate matter generated by incense is 45 mg versus 10 mg by cigarettes.

“People who burn incense may not realize that family members, including children, who are exposed to secondhand smoke face health consequences,” said allergist Mary Lee-Wong, senior author of the study and member of the ACAAI . “Similar to tobacco smoke, thirdhand smoke can linger in furniture, clothing and other items and then dissipate for months.”

The authors point out that the burning of incense not only has health consequences, but also contributes to air pollution and can pose a fire hazard. They recommend that when counseling patients who burn incense, healthcare providers should consider the sacred significance of burning incense, but also recognize that the health risks of this practice should not be overlooked.

After screening patients for incense use, physicians may recommend substitution with electric or aromatic vapors; simulated images; improved ventilation; and limiting burn time as an approach to limiting damage and improving symptoms.