Joss Sticks

So today begins the 7th Month Hungry Ghost Festival. Many had asked, why I dont pray or do any offerings whenever my company hosts an offering session for the hungry spirits. Well the answer is believe it or not, I heard from my Mum that once you started with this kind of offerings, there is no turning back. You gotta do it each year. Well, thats a commit that I am not ready to commit myself into if you ask me.

Anyway I stumbled upon this article in the papers on joss sticks burning. Hey, its a food for thought since most of us are in the "spirit" of burning if you know what I mean.

The smoke from smouldering joss sticks is a health hazard, according to a two year study of temple workers by a Thai doctor. "One joss stick produces the same amount of cancer-causing chemicals as one cigarette," said Dr Manoon Leechawenwong in a report by The Guardian yesterday. " I knew there would be some carcinogens, but I was suprised by the levels."

He studied 40 workers in three temples at Ayuthya, Chachoengsao and Samut Prakan - the shites chosen because they are far removed from Bangkok's traffic pollution. The findings were compared with those of 25 people living in a joss stick free environment.

Dr Manoon found the temple workers were exposed to high levels of chemicals such as benzyene, butadiene and benzopyrene, putting them at risk of leukaemia and lung and bladder cancers. He said that the risks could be reduced by putting out the lit sticks after a minute or so, rather than leaving standing in pots of sand as they burn down.

So before any of you inhale a dose of smoke from joss sticks, do spare a thought from the article above.





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