Emission characteristics of allergenic terpenols in PM2.5 released from incense burning and the effect of light on the emissions.

Abstract

This study investigated allergenic terpenol compounds in incense powder and smoke. The powder of two Thai brands contained higher concentrations of terpenols up to 6.15 times higher than those of two Taiwanese brands. Consequently, Thai incense makers face a higher potential risk of contact dermatitis than Taiwanese incense makers do. d-Limonene was the primary terpenol compound in the powder of Thai B (64.0%) and Thai Y (31.5%), sold in Thailand. By contrast, anisyl alcohol was the primary terpenol compound in the powder of LST (40.3%) and SC (37.7%), sold in Taiwan. After the four brands of incense were ignited, their mean PM2.5 emission factor was 18.02±6.20mgg-1 incense. The PM2.5 mass emission factors of the Taiwanese brands were far higher than those of the Thai brands, and so were the PM2.5 terpenol emission factors, showing that the smokes of the Taiwanese incense were potentially more allergenic than those of the Thai incense. Geraniol, the most allergenic terpenol compound, was 2.8%-10.7% of total terpenol compounds in the powder of the four brands, yet was the main contributor to PM2.5, constituting 66.3%-83.5% of terpenol compounds in the smokes of the four brands. Furthermore, geraniol exhibited an IP ratio, defined as the incense/powder (IP) ratio of terpenol-related species, >1 in all four brands, and >5 in the Taiwanese brands, suggesting a greater health risk with the smoke from the Taiwanese incense. The IP ratios of other terpenol species were all <1, indicating decomposition through combustion. Additionally, the light/darkroom ratios of the terpenol species were >1, meaning that the generation of PM2.5 terpenol compounds was potentially enhanced by indoor lighting.