Talk About Messing Up My Meditation

It seems that with each day, a new carcinogenic, or cancer causer, is brought to our collective attentions. If we are not told to stay away from microwaves, be aware of grilling temperatures or freezing that gym water bottle, we are consistently bombarded with new, albeit intriguing ways, to get cancer. Well, get your pens out, because here's another cancer causer to add to your list: incense. Yes, incense. So even if your instructor doesn't light a stick of frankincense and myrrh while you are in Downward Dog position, you may be exposed to incense while smoking your house out or practically floating in its varieties of aromas and flavors at your local church or temple — this has been my experience, at least. In the article "Long-Term Exposure to Incense Raises Cancer Risk," study author Jeppe Friborg, MD, PhD, of the department of epidemiology research at Statens Serum Institute in Copenhagen, Denmark, discusses his findings, which surveyed more than 61,000 cancer-free Singapore Chinese between the ages of 45 and 74. His findings showed that because the smoke contains carcinogenic substances, those who were exposed to incense over a long period of time, irrespective if they were smokers or nonsmokers, almost doubled their risk of squamous cell carcinogens in their upper respiratory tract. Go figure. And although the article says, "There was no overall increased risk of lung cancer, but it did heighten the risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the lung," even the American Lung Association is officially adding incense to its list of risk factors. Hmm. Of course, one wouldn't compare incense to the risky behavior of smoking cigarette packs every day, but I do think it would be wise to minimize your personal exposure to it (read: you really don't have to tell me twice). One question lingers, though: What am I to use for my home air freshener now?