Let's Change How We Burn Incense at Chinese New Year

Created By RISC | 8 months ago

Last modified date : 8 months ago

Chinese New Year is a time to honor the gods and ancestors for success, luck, and wealth. In addition to sweet and savory dishes and fruits, a vital element is incense.​

Incense sticks can be used to make offering to the spirit of a house and to present food. The smoke should help the prayer or message reach its intended receiver.

But we’re also inhaling harmful substances such as small particulate matter (PM), which is 4.5 times higher than in cigarette smoke, as well as carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO₂), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are air pollutants and harmful to our bodies. These compounds can cause respiratory problems, allergies, dermatitis, and cancer.​

Incense also pollutes the environment by emitting carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to global warming. Incense sticks emits carbon dioxide equal to a third of their weight. The more incense burnt, the bigger the environmental impact.​

During this Chinese New Year, let's try a new method: put out the incense stick before placing it in the pot. Don't let it burn until it goes out on its own. We can also use electronic incense sticks that don’t require combustion to protect the health of ourselves, our families, and those around us, as well as to look after the planet.​

Story by: Supunnapang Raksawong, Materials Researcher in Sustainable Building Material, RISC ​

References:​
1. Krishnaswamy G, Chi DS. Incense smoke: clinical, structural and molecular effects on airway disease. Clin Mol Allergy. 2008 Apr 25;6:3.​
2.https://www.mnre.go.th/attachment/iu/download.php?WP=rUIjnJ0jqmMZZJ1CM5O0hJatrTgjWz0kqmMZAJ1CM5O0hJatrTDo7o3Q