Limit use of joss sticks and incense – Chinese New Year ‘pollution’
PHOTOS: The Nation
by Pratch Rukivanarom
Health experts, however, warned that the widespread burning of Chinese joss papers and incense during the celebrations could “worsen air pollution and pose severe health threats”.
Health Department director-general Dr Panpimol Wipulakorn cautioned that exposure to air pollution from the burning of Chinese joss papers and incenses can cause acute sicknesses such as eye irritation, sneezing, breathing difficulties and headache, while prolonged exposure to the toxic smoke could even cause cancer.
“This kind of air pollution is very harmful to health and should be avoided by everyone.”
He added that children, elders, pregnant women and people with respiratory diseases were even more sensitive to the toxic smoke from the burning of Chinese joss papers and incense, so they should avoid inhaling the smoke at all cost.
“The smoke from Chinese joss papers and the burning of incense contain many kinds of hazardous heavy metals and carcinogens. In an examination of the leftover ashes, we found a very high amount of carcinogens,” she said.
Chinese New Year is neither traditionally celebrated nor recognised as an official holiday in Thailand. But as a large number of Thais of Chinese descent live in urban areas, Chinese New Year celebrations, which normally includes the burning of joss papers and 
incenses, can be widely seen in many Thai cities, especially in Bangkok’s Chinatown and Phuket.
STORY: The Nation
