Keep reading to learn how incense can potentially impact pregnant women and under what conditions burning incense might be okay.<\/p>\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nIs Incense Harmful? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In most cases burning incense is a harmless activity<\/a>. But without proper ventilation, incense can potentially worsen indoor air quality. As the incense burns, it can potentially release toxic carcinogenic chemicals<\/a>, like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n These chemicals are released in the form of tiny particles called particulate matter. Particulate matter (PM) is not as uncommon as suggested. <\/strong>The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) describes<\/a> PM as a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air. Some PM, like that of incense smoke, is visible, but other forms of this matter can only be viewed under a microscope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Inhaling particulate matter can lead to poor health conditions. You might experience eye, nose, or throat irritation. As finer particles<\/a> move into your lungs and\/or bloodstream, more serious conditions like heart or lung disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Those most vulnerable to illnesses connected to fine particulate matter are the elderly, babies, and children. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Exposure to PM occurs outdoors more than it does indoors because the source of PM is often construction projects, factory exhaust, vehicle engines, or forest fires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll notice that these sources are likely to produce huge clouds of smoke, dust, or soot. Natural incense doesn\u2019t produce as much smoke. It\u2019s possible that charcoal-based incense<\/a> can pose more respiratory problems, like inflamed lungs, because its particulate matter is made up of larger molecules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But even incense that\u2019s dipped can generally be enjoyed in moderation so long as there is adequate air flow within the home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Long-term use and excessive exposure to incense smoke has been linked to increased risk of respiratory tract<\/a> cancer growth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But there haven\u2019t been any definitive <\/em>connections between incense smoke and cancer.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Most of the research studies conducted on the detriment of burning incense is done in countries where incense is burned daily in temples<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You may have seen images or even experienced this practice. Billows of smoke fill the temple as hundreds of incense sticks<\/a> burn simultaneously. Eye, nose, and throat irritation is common in these situations because smoke makes it difficult to see as you walk inside. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s so much smoke concentrated in one area that scientists have described the levels of chemicals from temple smoke to be higher than what you\u2019d find released from vehicles at an intersection.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n With that level of exposure to incense smoke, it\u2019s understandable why individuals become ill. Burning a couple sticks of incense at home will not have the same impact on a person\u2019s health.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have asthma or another preexisting medical condition that is agitated by smoke, and you want to burn incense, then you might consider burning natural, wood-based and non-dipped low smoke incense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Exposure to smoke in general<\/a> can potentially impact a woman’s reproductive health. Common activities, like grilling, can post a respiratory challenge for a pregnant woman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Smoke contains gases and chemicals, like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that can harm a developing baby. These chemicals and gases can damage a developing baby\u2019s nervous system. Prolonged exposure can lead to birth defects and even a miscarriage. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Although the Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that exact levels necessary to cause these problems is unknown, it\u2019s probable that you\u2019d have to be engulfed in smoke in order for it to have a negative impact on you or your baby. There would need to be so much smoke that you lose consciousness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In a more realistic example, if you work in an environment where you come in direct contact with smoke (as a firefighter, cook, toll booth operator, etc), then you\u2019re more likely to inhale its harmful byproducts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While it\u2019s unlikely that incense could even produce enough smoke in your home to cause you or your baby harm, there are a few research studies worth mentioning. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In a study published in Science of the Total Environment in 2017, researchers investigated whether a pregnant woman\u2019s exposure to incense smoke at home<\/a> might lead to high blood pressure levels. Thousands of Chinese women participated in this three year study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Results indicated that women exposed to incense early on in their pregnancy did not have raised blood pressure levels.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Those who were exposed to incense smoke in their homes later in their pregnancy did experience higher blood pressure before giving birth. <\/strong>They were also found to be at higher risk for hypertensive disorders<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A Taiwan birth study<\/a> published in Environmental Health Perspectives in 2016 investigated correlations between infant health outcomes and exposure to incense smoke. More specifically, researchers measured birth weight and head circumference of over 15,000 babies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Infant boys with prenatal incense smoke exposure were found to have a lower birth rate than boys who weren\u2019t exposed to incense while in the womb. The same exposure didn\u2019t have an effect on female infants. But both boys and girls had a smaller head circumference. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Although this study had a large sample size, results are specific to this region and would need to be tested in other countries. Additionally, this study didn\u2019t measure the amount of incense these mothers were exposed to before giving birth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The same group of Taiwanese babies were part of a study that examined the motor development<\/a> of infants exposed to prenatal incense smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Babies between six and eighteen months old were assessed in their homes to determine whether they\u2019d met their expected milestones.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Impact of Excessive Incense Smoke Exposure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Is It Harmful to Burn Incense During Pregnancy? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Blood Pressure & Incense Burning<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Birth Weight & Incense<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Infant Motor Development & Incense<\/h3>\n\n\n\n