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By the end of the Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE), olfactory culture in China had evolved significantly as coveted aromatics continued to be imported and in increasing quantities from Southeast Asia. Although there is no surviving treatise dedicated to aromatics from this period, anecdotes in prose literature describing the uses and curation of scents reveal a process in which imported aromatics were being actively incorporated into existing olfactory culture and accrued new social, aesthetic, and ritual significance. This process is discernible in two major respects. First, a discourse of connoisseurship for aromatics arose in contrast to the conspicuous consumption of imported aromatics that flaunted wealth and status. Secondly, aromatics that were once the privilege of the very few began to be circulated among a wider (admittedly still elite) population, as seen in the case of the dragon brain aromatic in late-Tang and Five Dynasties accounts. By delving into these and related prose narratives and by cross-examining these accounts against other types of records, this article examines how imported aromatic goods shaped the Tang elite's perception of how scent was—and could be—used as part of a socially rooted sensory experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Key message: Incense is typically burned for use, with bronchitis and pneumonia reported as potential side effects. Physicians should be cautious as inappropriate oral ingestion of incense can lead to acute pneumonitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indoor air quality has become a topic of great concern. Burning incense has recently been identified as one of the primary sources of volatile organic compounds, specifically benzene, in an indoor setting. The current paper aims to evaluate volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, particularly benzene, within indoor environments through the utilization of an experimental clean room. Experimental findings showed that 10 types of incense sticks emitted benzene in concentrations between 11.1 and 66.5 μg m−3, which were 2.5 lower than the limit suggested for non-occupation indoor exposure (160 μg m−3), identified by the American Association of Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). Furthermore, a correlation between the dimensions (diameter and length) of the combustible parts in an incense stick was investigated and indicated a slight influence on the release of benzene. Taking into consideration the substantial influence benzene has on human health, coupled with a lack of precise legislation regarding indoor air quality in residential settings, this research serves as an initial investigation into the noteworthy effects of burning incense in private and public indoor settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a result of its unique fragrance and wider role in traditional medicine, agarwood produced in Aquilaria spp. and certain other trees has been harvested to near extinction as a natural phenomenon. Artificially induced agarwood production in Aquilaria plantations has sated some of the demand although the product quality is variable. Synthetic chemistry may have a role to play in providing sustainable routes to many of the fragrant components identified in agarwood and its smoke when burnt as incense. In this work, we report efforts towards a total synthesis of the guaiane sesquiterpene α-bulnesene, which is found, along with its more fragrant oxidised derivatives, in agarwood. Following the ring-expansion of (R)-carvone using reported procedures, α-butenylation gave a substrate for samarium diiodide mediated reductive cyclisation, the two butenyl epimers of the substrate each leading to a single bicyclic alcohol (24 and 25). Overall homoconjugate hydride reduction of one of these alcohols was achieved by Lewis acid-mediated ionisation and then hydride transfer from triethylsilane to complete an overall seven-step synthesis of 5-epi-α-bulnesene. This new synthesis paves the way for short routes to both α-bulnesene enantiomers and a study of their aerial and enzymatic oxidation products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incense is aromatic biotic material that releases fragrant smoke when burned. We aim to investigate the cognition risks from incense smoke. We obtained data from Taiwan Biobank in community. Cognition function was assessed by mini-mental state examination (MMSE). There were 978 participants in our study, including incense exposure (N = 131) and without incense exposure (N = 847). MMSE scores and registration sub-scores were lowered in incense exposure group than the other group. Incense exposure is one of the independent risk factors for cognitive decline in MMSE and registration sub-scores after adjusting confounding factors We concluded the risk of cognitive impairment, with predominant in registration in healthy individuals with incense exposure in community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Among the ritual practices denigrated through explicit or implicit criticism levied by the biblical writers is the worship of a deity or deities on the rooftops – sometimes of royal architecture, and at other times on private houses. In the present study I interpret this practice using concepts derived from the cognitive science of religion (CSR) and cognitive linguistics. I summarize previous typologies of objects employed in the sacrificial cult of the ancient Southern Levant, confirming prior arguments for understanding shaft-type limestone altars as stylized models of architectural precursors. From a cognitive perspective, these stylized architectural models prompted offrants to run a conceptual blend that replaced the modest small-scale vegetable or incense offering of the offrant's small-scale input space with the more sumptuous small-scale offering – or even large-scale animal sacrifice – of the monumental-scale input. This cognitive explanation provides explanation for Deuteronomistic and Priestly attempts to limit the practice, and occasions insight into the temporal aspects of "sacred space." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Burning incense of Carlina gummifera L. is a traditional practice in North African countries for religious or ritual intentions. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of smoke incense of this plant on the reproductive function in adult male rats. Setting and Design: This study was conducted in the Integrated Physiology Laboratory. Materials and Methods: Plant roots were collected, dried and finely ground in powder form. Adult Wistar rats were randomly assigned to treated groups exposed daily during 60 min for 15 consecutive days to smoke incense at 2, 4 and 6 g and a control group was subjected to the same conditions in the absence of smoke. Statistical Analysis Used: Statistical analysis was performed using one-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey's multiple comparison as the post hoc test. Results: Exposure to the incense of Carlina gummifera L. seriously affected dose dependently the reproductive function in male rats. It was found that in treated groups, the testicle relative weight decreased, while those of seminal vesicles and prostate increased when compared to the untreated group. Carlina gummifera L. incense inhalation reduced the total number, viability and mobility of epididymis spermatozoa compared to control. Furthermore, incense exposure induced various histological changes in the testes, prostate and seminal vesicles, including in particular a decrease in the number of gametes in the seminiferous tubes, the reduction of prostatic secretions and the macrophagic resorption of the seminal secretions. The effect of Carlina incense on the antioxidant system was evaluated by assaying the two antioxidant enzyme activities catalase and superoxide dismutase as well as thiol group levels in the testicles. Our results showed that fumigation affected these parameters, suggesting that the morphological and functional modifications in the male reproductive system induced by Carlina gummifera L. incense may be related, in part, to the alteration of the oxidative balance in the testicle. Conclusion: Smoke incense of Carlina gummifera L. caused marked reproductive toxicity in adult male rats associated with induced oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: This narrative type review aimed to address organ toxicity emanating from incense usage. Methods: An online search using the following MeSH terms "Incense smoke,", "adverse effects," "organotoxicity", "oxidative stress" and "inflammation" was done to identify studies directly applicable to adverse effects of incense smoke exposure. Findings: Exposure to incense smoke demonstrated various toxicity changes in the kidney, testes, lungs, liver and heart. Renal effects included a decrease in oxidative stress markers GSH and CAT, increase in MDA, serum creatinine uric acid and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). Testicular toxicityrevealed significant disturbances in spermatogenetic patterns, testicular atrophy, germinal aplasia, hypospermia and damage to the basal seminiferous epithelia tissue. In the cardiac muscle, ultrastructural changes, increased oxidative stress, inflammation, and altered cardiac hypertrophic gene expression was noted. Thenegative impact of incense smoke emanating from free radical (ROS), lipid peroxidation and GSH destabilizes vascular homeostasis and initiates ahyperinflammatory response, warranting the need to understand the conceptual basis of the mode of action linked to incense exposure. Conclusion: We highlight that incense generates ROS which initiates lipid peroxidation through ATP energy depletion and reduction in the natural antioxidants. This subsequently triggers oxidative stress, inflammation and endothelial dysfunction resulting in organotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Résumé: La qualité de l'air intérieur représente un enjeu de santé publique majeur. Les actions des pouvoirs publics portent notamment sur la réduction des sources de polluants volatils spécifiques aux environnements intérieurs, dont certains usages domestiques de produits de consommation. Pour contribuer à identifier les produits associés aux risques sanitaires les plus préoccupants, la démarche d'évaluation des risques sanitaires (ERS) a été appliquée à trois types de produits de consommation courante, présélectionnés en fonction de leurs risques individuels attendus : désodorisants combustibles (encens, bougies parfumées), produits ménagers et désodorisants non combustibles (sprays, diffuseurs). Le champ des ERS réalisées incluait les expositions par inhalation, chroniques et aiguës (expositions d'une heure), et les usages de type domestique. Ces ERS se sont basées sur des concentrations mesurées en conditions réelles et sur des scénarios d'exposition déterministes (« moyen » et « pire cas raisonnable ») élaborés à partir de sondages nationaux sur les usages des produits étudiés. Dans le cas particulier des produits ménagers, l'élaboration de séances de ménage complètes, « multiproduits » et « multipièces », s'est appuyée sur une consultation de parties prenantes. Les résultats obtenus suggèrent que, dans le cadre des produits testés et des hypothèses retenues dans ces ERS, (i) les usages les plus courants correspondent à des risques individuels chroniques non préoccupants, quel que soit le type de produit étudié, considéré individuellement ; (ii) les expositions les plus élevées ont besoin d'être réduites pour assurer l'absence de risque préoccupant, notamment en réduisant les émissions des produits les plus émissifs, quel que soit le type de produit étudié ; (iii) les encens et, dans une moindre mesure, les sprays désodorisants sont les produits présentant les risques individuels les plus élevés, parmi les produits étudiés. Les substances d'intérêt prioritaire identifiées sont l'acroléine, le benzène, le formaldéhyde et les particules fines (PM2,5). Les effets sanitaires potentiels incluent divers troubles du système respiratoire et un excès de risque de leucémie. Indoor air quality is a major public health issue. Potential government actions include reducing indoor sources of volatile pollutants, especially household uses of some consumer products of concern. To help identify the products with the greatest health risks, a Health Risk Assessment (HRA) approach was applied to three types of consumer products, selected in advance for their expected individual risks: combustible air fresheners (incense, scented candles), cleaning products, and non-combustible air fresheners (sprays, diffusers). The scope of the HRA covered inhalation exposures (chronic and acute) and household uses. These HRAs were based on concentrations measured in real conditions and on exposure scenarios ("mean" and "reasonable worst-case") developed with national utilization surveys in France. A meeting with stakeholders for cleaning products led to the development of full "multi-product" and "multi-room" cleaning sessions. The results suggest that, based on the products tested and on the assumptions selected in these HRA, (i) the most common uses for each type of product studied correspond to individual chronic risks that may not be of concern, (ii) the highest exposures for each type of product should be reduced to ensure safe use and, as such, emissions should be reduced for the products with the highest emission levels, (iii) incense products and, to a lesser extent, fragrance sprays are the consumer products with the highest individual risks among the products studied. The priority substances identified were acrolein, benzene, formaldehyde, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Potential health effects include various respiratory system disorders and an excess risk of leukemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Burning incense (bakhour) is a common cultural practice in Saudi Arabia. However, its health risk assessment has rarely been studied. This study aims to investigate the association between exposure to incense smoke on lung function impairments and respiratory symptoms among young adults in Saudi Arabia. A community‐based cross‐sectional study was designed with a representative study sample (N = 125) in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Study participants, exposed group (n = 45), working in bakhour shop and matched control (n = 80), no history of occupational exposure to bakhour smoke, were recruited randomly from the population registry. Socio‐demographic and respiratory symptom information were collected through a questionnaire developed based on European Community Respiratory Health Survey II (ECRHS II). Lung function measurements were conducted using a field spirometer. The overall prevalence of wheezing or whistling was 16.8%, with a higher prevalence in exposed group 35.5%. In adjusted models, exposed to incense smoke remained positively associated with respiratory symptoms: wheezing or whistling; breathlessness; chest tightness shortness of breath; woken up by an attack of coughing. Our study suggests that inhaled incense smoke in occupation or at home is a risk factor of lung function impairments among adult population in Saudi Arabia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Asia and some other regions of the world, incense burning is an important folk and cultural activity. However, this ritual can cause health impacts, such as chronic respiratory diseases and neoplasms. Herein, we describe a family with lead poisoning possibly related to the frequent use of incense sticks at home. A 65-year-old homemaker with severe anemia, pitting edema of the lower legs, bone pain, abdominal pain, and exertional dyspnea for several months presented to our clinic. Her blood workup indicated severe anemia with basophilic stippling in red blood cells and blood lead level (BLL) of 59.75 μg/dL. Her husband, three children, and four grandchildren who lived with her also had high BLLs. As a Daoist clergy person, she had been exposed to a large amount of smoke from every day use of incense for >30 years. In the field investigation, the chronic dust deposited in hidden corners of their home had considerably higher lead content and other toxic metals. Our observations indicated chronic, frequent exposure to smoke from incense burning may be a cause of lead poisoning. Strict avoidance of incense smoke is a significant step toward preventing lead poisoning in children in societies with the custom of incense burning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Smoke from burning plants is a traditional spatial repellent against insects worldwide. Smoke is also commonly used in religious rituals. In Chinese folk religion and Taoism as practiced in Taiwan, Asiatic wormwood leaves, agarwood incense sticks, and joss paper ("ghost money") are often burned or carried to pray for health or at festivals that overlap with peak mosquito seasons. The possibility exists that some of these rituals became popular due to repellent effects of the smoke reducing the impact of insect-vectored pathogens. The effects of these smokes on the Dengue-vectoring mosquito Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762) (Diptera: Culicidae) was measured following the World Health Organization guidelines for spatial repellency testing. The chemical constituents of the smoke were identified using a solid-phase microextraction fiber for extraction followed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Smoke from wormwood weakly repelled mosquitoes and had some knock-down effects. Smoke from incense showed consistent but weak repellency effects, with no knock-down. Smoke from joss paper had no effect overall, with some mosquitoes seemingly attracted to the flames. While air pollution remains a concern regarding smoky incense, the possibility that mosquito-repelling volatiles can be isolated from the incense and utilized without smoke justifies deeper investigation into the source of these repellent effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines petitionary prayer in Revelation 5:8; 6:10; 8:3–4; and 22:20 for the purpose of ascertaining its rhetorical function with respect to the vindication of the martyrs, the judgment of the wicked, the coming of Jesus, and the completion of God's mission in the earth. This analysis also places Revelation in conversation with prayer passages within the Fourth Gospel in order to discern how these documents, read on their own terms and then taken together, provide a fuller picture concerning the function of Johannine prayer. 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incense was an essential part of temple rituals during the New Kingdom. A relief scene of redistribution of this economic good, carved in the hall of the Theban tomb of Puimra (TT 39), a Second Priest of Amun in the early Eighteenth Dynasty, helps to understand how incense traveled from abroad to the royal treasury and temple estates to be then redistributed among the different temples in Amun’s domain. The data is compared with evidence from other contemporary tombs, shedding light on the redistribution of goods in a centralized economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The sublime in scent refers to the use of language and description that excites thoughts and emotions beyond ordinary olfactory experience, and I would like to borrow this literary concept to explore the recent development of incense traditions in Japan and China from a sociocultural perspective. In order to understand how olfactory characters of incense have been verbally expressed, we can start by looking into the sublime in scent through the articulation of relevant subtle approaches since ancient times. Design/methodology/approach: This paper explains how the description of scent experienced by individuals has been associated with thoughts and history and why the sublime in scent is more complicated than the aroma people can tell. The data collected for this research is mostly based on observations by participating in various events and conversations with different people. Findings: In Japan and China, the use of incense has a long history, and relevant scent cultures have been developed not only for offerings in religious practices, but also as a kind of scent appreciation together with a poetic presentation. Again, it is important and significant to discern several interactions of incense traditions in these two countries, since the transformations became obvious in the last two decades, while Japanese Kodo participated more in international exchange, and the Chinese people's view of intangible cultural heritage has become more important in their daily social practices. Originality/value: As a way of showing how the study of scent can enhance ethnographic writing and the understanding of changes in the appreciation of incense, this paper hopes to contribute to the study of art and tradition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within some of the earliest textual and material evidence for the history of Islam, pilgrimage appears as an important ritual of devotion, identity, and community. Yet modern scholarship has given little attention to early Muslims' sensory experiences of pilgrimage sites and what they physically encountered while there. This article examines the importance of smell within Islamic pilgrimage practices of the first/seventh and second/eighth centuries. Drawing upon literary and material evidence, I reconstruct several olfactory components of pilgrimage in this period, including intensive usage of perfume and incense at pilgrimage destinations such as the Kaʿba and the Dome of the Rock, as well as pilgrims' collection and ingestion of scented materials from these locations. I then argue that the prominence of pleasing aromas at these sacred spaces is connecting to early Islamic ideas about the proximity of paradise to these pilgrimage sites. Résumé: Dans certaines des premières sources textuelles et matérielles de l'histoire de l'islam, le pèlerinage apparaît comme un rituel important de dévotion, d'identité et de communauté. Néanmoins, dans la recherche contemporaine, les expériences sensorielles sur les sites du pèlerinage des musulmans ont fait l'objet de peu d'études. Cet article examine l'importance de l'odorat dans les pratiques islamiques du pèlerinage des Ier/VIIe et IIe/VIIIe siècles. En m'appuyant sur des sources littéraires et matérielles, je reconstruis de nombreuses composantes de l'olfaction dans le pèlerinage à cette époque, y compris l'importante utilisation de parfums et d'encens dans les lieux de pèlerinage tels que la Kaʿba et le Dôme du Rocher, ainsi que la collecte et l'ingestion de matériaux parfumés par les pèlerins à partir de ces emplacements. Je soutiens ensuite que l'importance des aromates dans ces espaces sacrés est liée aux premières représentations islamiques sur la proximité du paradis avec ces sites de pèlerinage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is no waste management practiced anywhere when it comes to handling flower waste or used flowers, except hand over to the civic bodies. HolyWaste upcycles floral waste into incense sticks, soaps, cleaning agents, compost, etcmanaging floral waste as well as promoting women entrepreneurship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This study investigated the feasibility of an environmentally friendly incense consisting of a soy-based adhesive and miscellaneous wood powder (MWP). Key properties, such as water absorption, burning speed, density, and tensile strength, were examined. The suitable adhesive usage amount for the preparation of incense was 31.8%. When the soy-based adhesive contained 3% polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), the water absorption, burning speed, density, and tensile strength of the incense were 24.6%, 13.93%, 0.713 g/cm3, and 1.01 MPa, respectively. Incense made of soy-based adhesive with PVOH displayed a higher tensile strength and decreased moisture resistance. The denser structure and even distribution of the MWP was observed via scanning electron microscopy of the incense with soy-based adhesive modified by 3% PVOH. When paraffin wax was added with the MWP, the incense had a higher moisture resistance, but the effects on the tensile strength were negligible. A combination of PVOH-modified soy-based adhesive, paraffin wax, and MWP was found to be suitable for preparing an environmentally friendly incense. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Incense Ceremony is one of Japans traditional arts. After the early court enjoyed fragrance and incense in a playful manner (as documented by sources dating back as far as the early eighth century), it evolved during the fifteenth century into a complex ceremony. The moment of olfactory perception turned into a strict ritual, which combined performative as well as ornamental constituents. In the following Edo period (1603–1868) the Incense Ceremony is characterized by a significant rise in popularity, marked by a growing number of practitioners, who used written treatises to teach and transmit practical knowledge about the art. As one of the first printed treatises the Kōdō hidensho 香道秘伝書 (1669) reached wide circulation. Additionally, the number of comments on this specific treatise published in the century following its publication attest to its high status. While there are other treatises focusing on some aspects of the ceremony in more detail, the Kōdō hidensho does provide a solid overview on the ceremony, its material and performative constituents, its games and how they were celebrated. Consisting of nine separate parts in its entirety, the following translation presents the first two. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incense smoke is reported to increase cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in exposed individuals. However, the mechanism underlying the toxic effect of incense smoke on cardiovascular system is unclear. To test this, we chronically exposed male albino rats to two different types of Arabian incense smoke and studied their effects on oxidative stress, inflammation, and endothelial function. Rats exposed to either of incense smoke showed a significant increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) and a significant decline in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduced glutathione (GSH). Endothelial functional marker, nitric oxide (NO) was significantly decreased while endothelin-1 was significantly increased in rats exposed to both the incense types. Incense smoke exposure also led to a significant increase in chemokines and inflammatory mediators including monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), granulocyte-macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), regulated on activation normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), interleukin-4 (IL-4), C-reactive protein (CRP), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Besides, incense smoke-exposed rats demonstrated a significant increase in the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecules-1 (VCAM-1), and E-selectin. Importantly, cessation of incense smoke exposure for 30 days led to a significant reversal in the levels of all the studied markers. Collectively, this study describes oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, and inflammation as possible underlying mechanisms in the toxic effects of incense smoke on increased CVD risk in exposed individuals. Findings also underscore that avoiding incense smoke exposure may have beneficial health effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Experimental studies have shown that exposure to incense burning may have deleterious effects on kidney function and architecture. However, the association between chronic exposure to incense smoke and risk of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) has not been reported in epidemiologic studies.Methods: We investigated this association in the Singapore Chinese Health Study, a prospective population-based cohort of 63,257 Chinese men and women of 45-74 years of age in Singapore during recruitment from 1993 to 1998. Information on the practice of incense burning at home, diet, lifestyle and medical history was collected at baseline interviews. ESRD cases were identified through linkage with the nationwide Singapore Renal Registry through 2015. We used Cox proportional hazards regression analysis to estimate hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of ESRD associated with domestic incense burning.Results: Among cohort participants, 76.9% were current incense users. After an average 17.5 years of follow-up, there were 1217 incident ESRD cases. Compared to never users, the multivariable-adjusted HR for ESRD risk was 1.05 (95% CI, 0.80 to 1.38) for former users and 1.26 (95% CI, 1.02 to1.57) for current users of incense. In analysis by daily or non-daily use and duration, the increased ESRD risk was observed in daily users who had used incense for > 20 years; HR was 1.25 (95% CI, 1.07 to 1.46). Conversely, the risk was not increased in those who did not use incense daily or who had used daily but for ≤20 years.Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that long-term daily exposure to domestic incense burning could be associated with a higher risk of ESRD in the general population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite being a recognized health hazard, burning incense remains in widespread use. A number of studies have investigated the emissions of air pollulants from incense burning, but less attention has been given to particle decay following incense burning. We have studied the elemental composition and indoor emission characteristics of incense sticks in terms of the size distribution and concentrations of fine particles. The results of chemical analysis and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy showed that the primary constituents of the emissions were CaCO3 and SiO2, together with lesser amounts of Mg, K, Al, Fe, and Cl. Analysis using a scanning mobility particle sizer revealed that the maximum total particle concentration at the end of the burning period was up to 30-fold higher than that of the initial background levels and that it remained elevated even 100 min after the incense sticks had been completely burned up. Emitted incense particles decayed in a biexponential manner, with particles of up to 100 nm in size decaying with lifetimes of several tens of minutes, while nanoparticles with diameters of 100-700 nm having lifetimes of > 100 min, as their removal mechanisms are slower. The peak particle size immediately following the end of incense burning was 85 nm, and this increased to 110 nm at 100 min after completion of burning. This result indicates that a high proportion of emitted particles can be inhaled into the alveolar region of the lung, where the potential for adverse health effects is the greatest. These findings provide a more detailed insight into particle decay mechanisms under conditions of low ventilation, with implications for human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two artificial and three live houseplants were assessed for their abilities to capture particulate matter smaller than 2.5 µm (PM2.5) generated by burning an incense stick. The test plants included polyester Boston fern, polyethylene Dieffenbachia, Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum), Painted nettle (Plectranthus scutellarioides) and Rainbow tree (Dracaena cincta Bak. ‘Tricolor’). Each plant was tested one at a time in a closed 8-m3 chamber, and the PM2.5 concentrations were continuously measured for 24 h. A loss rate constant for PM2.5 due to deposition onto leaf surface was determined by fitting measured concentrations to a mass balance model using nonlinear regression. The PM2.5 loss rates for the artificial Boston fern correlated well with its total leaf surface areas at the significant level of 0.5. All studied plants had PM2.5 loss rates ranging from 0.05 to 0.08 h−1 under the testing condition of similar total leaf surface areas, while a PM2.5 loss rate due to deposition onto the chamber surfaces was 0.03 h−1. Stereo microscope leaf images revealed the particle accumulation mostly on the midribs and veins rather than the flat blades, while the woven polyester fabric of the artificial plant acts as a filter for collecting the coarse particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Burning incense to worship deities is a popular religious ritual in large parts of Asia, and is a popular custom affecting more than 1.5 billion adherents. Due to incomplete combustion, burning incense has been well recognized to generate airborne hazards to human health. However, the correlation between burning incense and lung cancer in epidemiological studies remains controversy. Therefore, we speculated that some unknown materials in incense smoke are involved in the initiation or progression of lung cancer. Based on this hypothesis, we identified a major compound auramine O (AuO) from the water-soluble fraction of incense burned condensate using mass spectrometry. AuO is commonly used in incense manufacture as a colorant. Due to thermostable, AuO released from burned incenses becomes an unexpected air pollutant. AuO is classified as a Group 2B chemical by the International Agency of Research on Cancer (IARC), however, the damage of AuO to the respiratory system remains elusive. Our study revealed that AuO has no apparent effect on malignant transformation; but, it dramatically promotes lung cancer malignancy. AuO accumulates in the nucleus and induces the autophagy activity in lung tumor cells. AuO significantly enhances migration and invasive abilities and the in vitro and in vivo stemness features of lung tumor cells through activating the expression of aldehyde dehydrogenase family 1 member A1 (ALDH1A1), and ALDH1A1 knockdown attenuates AuO-induced autophagy activity and blocks AuO-induced lung tumor malignancy. In conclusion, we found that AuO, an ingredient of incense smoke, significantly increases the metastatic abilities and stemness characters of lung tumor cells through the activation of ALDH1A1, which is known to be associated with poor outcome and progression of lung cancer. For public health, reducing or avoiding the use of AuO in incense is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incense burning is a popular cultural and religious practice, but whether exposure to incense smoke has effects on lung function is unclear. We investigated association between lung function and incense burning exposure and other household exposures in adolescents who participated in a mass asthma-screening program. Information on asthmatic status and associated factors was obtained from parent-completed questionnaires and student-completed video questionnaires. Approximately 10% of students received lung function examinations. Valid lung function data of 5010 students aged 14-16 years in northern Taiwan were analyzed. Forced vital capacity ( FVC) and forced expiratory flow in 1 second ( FEV1) were compared by incense burning status and other types of exposures for adolescents. Overall, 70.6% of students were exposed to incense smoke at home. The mean FVC and FEV1 measures were lower among adolescents with daily exposure to incense burning than those without such exposure ( P<.05). Sharing bedroom was also associated with decreased FVC and FEV1. After controlling for confounding factors, multivariable linear regression analysis with generalized estimation equation showed that FVC was negatively associated with daily exposure to incense burning, sharing a bedroom, and living in a house adjacent to a traffic road. Such associations were also observed in FEV1. Daily exposure to incense burning is associated with impaired adolescent lung function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, there are over 100 legally available synthetic cannabimimetics (SCBs). Serious adverse effects and deaths have been related to use of these substances. Despite their known hazards, many of them are still not banned for use in Croatia and grow in popularity among drug users. We report the case of a young man who suffered a cardiorespiratory arrest and eventually died several hours after smoking herbal incense containing a sprayed mixture of SCBs and consuming alcohol. He had no history of health problems and the autopsy revealed no pathological findings. We discuss hazards related to herbal incense smoking and draw attention to the rise in a number of cases related to use of SCBs in our community. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

BACKGROUND: Incense burning for rituals or religious purposes is an important tradition in many countries. However, incense smoke contains particulate matter and gas products such as carbon monoxide, sulfur, and nitrogen dioxide, which are potentially harmful to health. OBJECTIVES: We analyzed the relationship between prenatal incense burning and birth weight and head circumference at birth using the Taiwan Birth Cohort Study. We also analyzed whether the associations varied by sex and along the distribution of birth outcomes. METHODS: We performed ordinary least squares (OLS) and quantile regressions analysis on a sample of 15,773 term births (> 37 gestational weeks; 8,216 boys and 7,557 girls) in Taiwan in 2005. The associations were estimated separately for boys and girls as well as for the population as a whole. We controlled extensively for factors that may be correlated with incense burning and birth weight and head circumference, such as parental religion, demographics, and health characteristics, as well as pregnancy-related variables. RESULTS: Findings from fully adjusted OLS regressions indicated that exposure to incense was associated with lower birth weight in boys (-18 g; 95% CI: -36, -0.94) but not girls (1 g; 95% CI: -17, 19; interaction p-value = 0.31). Associations with head circumference were negative for boys (-0.95 mm; 95% CI: -1.8, -0.16) and girls (-0.71 mm; 95% CI: -1.5, 0.11; interaction p-values = 0.73). Quantile regression results suggested that the negative associations were larger among the lower quantiles of birth outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: OLS regressions showed that prenatal incense burning was associated with lower birth weight for boys and smaller head circumference for boys and girls. The associations were more pronounced among the lower quantiles of birth outcomes. Further research is necessary to confirm whether incense burning has differential effects by sex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the influence of three environmental indoor parameters (i.e., temperature, relative humidity, and air exchange rate) on the emission of 13 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) during incense burning. Experiments have been carried out using an environmental test chamber. Statistical results from a classical two-level full factorial design highlight the predominant effect of ventilation on emission factors. The higher the ventilation, the higher the emission factor. Moreover, thanks to these results, an estimation of the concentration range for the compounds under study can be calculated and allows a quick look of indoor pollution induced by incense combustion. Carcinogenic substances (i.e., benzene, benzo(a)pyrene, and formaldehyde) produced from the incense combustion would be predicted in typical living indoors conditions to reach instantaneous concentration levels close to or higher than air quality exposure threshold values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The indoor burning of different materials like fuels, incense, mosquito coil, candles etc. results in generation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in an uncontrolled manner. The PAH, i.e., Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) is considered as most toxic or carcinogenic and the toxicity of other PAHs is related to this compound. Therefore, the concentration and emission fluxes of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) emitted during burning of commonly used indoor materials, i.e., 15 fuels (i.e., biomass (BM), coal (C), cow dung (CD), kerosene (K)), 4 incense (IS) and mosquito coil (MC) in Raipur district, Chhattisgarh, central India is described. The samples were taken in September 2013 in indoor environments and respective smoke emitted were collected using high volume United State of America (USA) air sampler on quartz fiber filters. The concentration of total 13 PAHs (∑PAH13) (i.e., phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, benz(a)anthracene, chrysene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, benzo(a)-pyrene, dibenz(ah)anthracene, benzo(ghi) perylene, indeno1,2,3-(cd)pyrene, and coronene) in particulate matter (PM10) in the indoor air during burning of the fuels, IS and MC materials ranged from 367–92052 ng m−3, 4089–14047 ng m−3, and 66–103 ng m−3with mean values of 7767 ± 11809 ng m−3, 9977 ± 4137 ng m−3, and 74 ± 20 ng m−3, respectively. The mean concentration of the ∑PAH13present in indoor environment is much higher than the WHO limit value of 1.0 ng m−3. The sources and toxicities of PAHs are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The health impact of indoor air pollution is a growing area of interest for public health professionals. People typically spend up to 90 per cent of their time indoors, particularly women, young children and elders. Although the adverse health effects of second-hand tobacco smoke are well recognised, the impact of burning incense in the home has received little attention in Western literature. Incense burning in the home is common in a number of cultures (particularly Asian, North African or Arabic). Many health visitors (HVs) work with communities who use incense regularly for religious/cultural reasons and it is a neglected area of study and research. The literature suggests that home incense use can have significant adverse health effects, particularly on cardiopulmonary morbidity and mortality. Further research is needed to identify which individuals are most susceptible, which types of incense are most harmful, and whether any actions can be taken to minimise exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While there is strong evidence for the association between household air pollution and lung cancer among non-smoking women, the association between domestic incense use and lung cancer risk has been inconsistent. We conducted a systematic review of PubMed articles authored between 1969 and August 25, 2015 before performing a manual review of each study, and found a total of seven published studies on this topic. Most of the studies are case-control in design and did not further stratify by sex and smoking status. Of the seven studies, three reported positive associations, three reported null associations and one study found a negative association between incense use and lung cancer. Only one study reported estimates for non-smoking women. Future studies should be larger in sample size, stratify by both sex and smoking status in their analyses, and collect more detailed information on incense use in order to facilitate the understanding of the association between domestic incense use and lung cancer risk among non-smoking women in Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses an Iron Age incense altar which was found out of context in Tell el-Burak, South Lebanon. It is the fourth of its kind to be found in that country. The small stone altar is characterized by the presence of a band on its upper part and by the absence of horns. It belongs to the category of freestanding altars defined by Gitin. The study suggests that this altar did not have a cultic function as no traces of burning and no depression on its surface were detected. Rather, and by analogy with the Ekron evidence, it is proposed that it may have been connected with an industry, wine or olive oil production, that was taking place probably on Tell el-Burak. This hypothetical function was suggested in the light of the discovery of a large vat on the southern slope of the Tell which was obviously part of an industrial installation and in the presence of in situ broken amphorae in one of the houses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incense stick is a globally traded product and it is mainly used for worship, meditation, and various ceremonies. Bamboo stick making for incense sticks has been an age-old tradition for the rural people in Tripura, largely women are involved in this practice. Tripura used to supply 90 percent of bamboo sticks utilized by the Indian incense stick industry till the situation changed drastically following gregarious flowering (2003-2009) and death of old stock of Melocanna baccifera which accounted for 80 per cent of its bamboo resource in the state. This article deals with the present status of incense stick making, its utilization pattern and role in livelihood generation in the state. Harvesting of bark of the small tree such as Litsea glutinosa used for making the adhesive for rolling incense sticks is also discussed in detail as it is becoming scarce due to irresponsible harvest. The study also highlighted the problems facing by artisans in incense stick making and its sustainable production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Burning incense indoors is a common behavior in Southeast Asia. In this investigation, needle trap samplers (NTS), a novel, green analytical technology is used for sampling gaseous combustion by-products from sandalwood incense coils. To extract indoor volatile organic compounds (VOCs), two NTS are prepared, one using 60-80 mesh and the other using 100-120 mesh divinylbenzene (DVB) particles packed in 22-gauge stainless steel needles. This work compares extraction efficiency of an NTS and that of a commercially available 100 µm polydimethylsiloxane solid phase microextration (PDMS-SPME) fiber sampler. Experimental results indicated that the 100-120 mesh DVB-NTS performed best among all samplers during a 1 h sampling period. The main extracted compounds were toluene, ethylbenzene, propane, chloromethane, 1,3-butadiene, methanol and dichloromethane. The potential use of small badge-sized or pen-sized NTS for the indoor atmosphere and occupational hygiene applications is addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hazardous particulates and volatiles produced by incense burning accumulate in the indoor atmosphere, where they pose a health risk, entering the human body via the respiratory system. Yet, few studies have focused on the effects of the total particulate matter from incense burning on human health. Here, we evaluate the health risks associated with the total particulate matter generated from burning incense indoors for the first time. The total particulate matter and major chemical components of two types of incense smoke were characterized using an electrical low pressure impactor and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Their genotoxicity and cytotoxicity were compared with mainstream tobacco smoke using in vitro assays. Our results show that both the particulate number and mass of incense smoke were dominated by ultrafine to fine particles. In addition, many aromatic, irritant, and toxic compounds were identified in the particulate fraction. In vitro assessments showed that the genotoxicity of the particulate matter from one particular incense sample was higher than the reference cigarette sample with the same dose. All particulate matter fractions from the incense investigated were found to possess greater cytotoxicity on Chinese hamster ovary cells than smoke from the reference cigarette. Collective assessment of these data will affect the evaluation of incense products and facilitate measures to reduce exposure to their smoke. Clearly, there needs to be greater awareness and management of the health risks associated with burning incense in indoor environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Journal of Practical Theology is the property of De Gruyter and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Incense smoke exposure has recently been linked to cardiovascular disease risk, heart rate variability, and endothelial dysfunction. To test the possible underlying mechanisms, oxidative stress, and inflammatory markers, gene expressions of cardiac hypertrophic and xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes and ultrastructural changes were measured, respectively, using standard, ELISA-based, real-time PCR, and transmission electron microscope procedures in heart tissues of Wistar rats after chronically exposing to Arabian incense. Malondialdehyde, tumor necrosis alpha (TNF)-α, and IL-4 levels were significantly increased, while catalase and glutathione levels were significantly declined in incense smoke-exposed rats. Incense smoke exposure also resulted in a significant increase in atrial natriuretic peptide, brain natriuretic peptide, β-myosin heavy chain, CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 messenger RNAs (mRNAs). Rats exposed to incense smoke displayed marked ultrastructural changes in heart muscle with distinct cardiac hypertrophy, which correlated with the augmented hypertrophic gene expression as well as markers of cardiac damage including creatine kinase-myocardial bound (CK-MB) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Increased oxidative stress, inflammation, altered cardiac hypertrophic gene expression, tissue damage, and architectural changes in the heart may collectively contribute to increased cardiovascular disease risk in individuals exposed to incense smoke. Increased gene expressions of CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 may be instrumental in the incense smoke-induced oxidative stress and inflammation. Thus, incense smoke can be considered as a potential environmental pollutant and its long-term exposure may negatively impact human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article seeks a fresh assessment of Paul's pompa triumphalis imagery at 2 Cor. 2.14–16a by probing a number of neglected aspects of both lexical and cultural background. Included are (1) an analysis of the use of θριαμβεύω in the Greco-Roman literature, with special attention given to claims made concerning the word's use with direct objects; (2) a lexicology of ὀσμή and εὐωδία in literatures of the period; and (3) a probing of the language of ‘salvation’ in the passage, with attention given to a feature of the triumphal procession parades that has until now failed to garner attention in investigations of the passage. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article focuses on the "Blessing of the New Light" as a ritual of Holy Saturday in the Melkite Church as a Byzantine rite Church. Topics discussed include consideration of the rite originations from Jerusalem with assessment of the Holy Fire rite performance; comparison of the Holy Fire ceremony with the "Blessing of the New Light" ritual with Incensation of the Church; and analysis of ritual's information presence in Melkite Church service books.