Hazard Assessment of United Arab Emirates (UAE) Incense Smoke

Burning UAE incense inside their homes is a common practice of Emeriti citizens and has been recognized as a source of indoor air pollution that can cause adverse effects to the individuals exposed to the compounds emitted. The goal of this study was to evaluate the hazards of burning incense indoors by first characterizing the particles and gases emitted from UAE incense when burned, then observing in vitro biomarkers of possible health effects in humans using cultured cells exposed to incense-derived compounds. To identify the emitted compounds, two types of UAE incense were burned in a specially designed indoor environmental chamber (22m[3]) to simulate the smoke concentration in a typical living room followed by analysis of the chamber air. Air analysis included determining particle (PM), carbon monoxide (CO), oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and formaldehyde (HCHO) concentrations as well as particle sizing, and carbonyl analysis. To examine potential health effects indicators, human lung cells were exposed to the incense emissions in vitro and the cell inflammatory responses were recorded. Analysis showed that the emissions from the incense burn included PM, CO, NOx and HCHO along with several other carbonyls. A significant inflammatory response was observed in response to the smoke components. Therefore, it is concluded that incense smoke contributes to indoor air pollution and can potentially be harmful to humans.Master of Science in Environmental Engineerin