TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Business Today urged temples and households on Wednesday to burn less incense to help prevent lung cancer.
Speaking at a press conference, publisher Liang Yung-huang (梁永煌) said more than 10,000 people in Taiwan died of lung cancer in 2024. He said lung cancer has been Taiwan’s deadliest cancer for 21 straight years.
Liang said Taiwan has long focused on lung cancer treatment, but prevention is now just as important. He said smoking, incense burning, cooking fumes, and exposure to some chemical products may raise the risk of lung adenocarcinoma, a common type of lung cancer.
“Religious faith remains important,” Liang said, “but people should also protect their health.” He said the campaign calls on temples and the public to take a first step by burning less incense and less joss paper.
Business Today reported that Taipei’s Longshan Temple spent about 20 years moving from reduced incense use to a full ban. The temple now asks worshippers to pray with “heart incense,” meaning sincere prayer without burning incense, and says it remains popular with cleaner air.
Lungshan Temple Chair Huang Shu-wei (黃書瑋) said some people once believed incense was needed to communicate with gods. He said changing customs must begin with people’s hearts.
Huang said the health of temple workers appeared to improve after it stopped burning incense. He said fewer workers suffered from cardiovascular disease and cancer after the change.
National Taiwan University environmental health Professor Chen Pao-chung (陳保中) said incense burning at large temples is not Taiwan’s main source of PM2.5 air pollution. However, he said Lungshan Temple is influential and can help lead public change.
Chen said studies in Singapore found incense burning was linked to higher risks of lung cancer, stroke, heart attack, and kidney disease. He said the issue also affects homes, because about half of households in Taiwan burn incense indoors.
Chen urged the public to reduce incense burning or at least keep indoor spaces well ventilated. He said the campaign should move from temples into homes.
National Taiwan University Professor Chien Hsu-shen (簡旭伸) said it may be difficult to ask all temples to stop burning incense immediately. He said air quality testing can help temples understand pollution levels and decide how to reduce incense use.
Several temples have already joined the effort. Taipei’s Zhongshun Temple reduced its incense burners from six to two during the Lunar New Year, while New Taipei’s Yonglian Temple has reduced joss paper burning and now uses three incense burners.
Li Yu-chen (李玉珍), chair of the Graduate Institute of Religious Studies at National Chengchi University, said religious groups can help promote social responsibility. She said temples can encourage believers, through moral guidance, to support public health and environmental protection.
