Worshippers’ Exposure to Particulate Matter in Two Temples in Taiwan

Abstract

Worshippers in temples may be exposed to high concentrations of pollutants emitted from incense burning. This work assessed the PM2.5 and PM10 exposures of temple worshippers in Taiwan and explored the important exposure determinants such as numbers of passing visitors and joss sticks in censers, worshipping dates, and temple characteristics. Sampling was conducted on the 1st, 2nd, 15th, and 16th of the lunar month in two temples in Taichung, Taiwan. Research staff took samples by wearing one PM2.5 and one PM10 sampler and imitating worshipping activity. Personal environmental monitors connected to personal pumps with 2-L/min flow rates were used for sampling. PM10 samples were also simultaneously taken outside the temples. The results suggested that burning joss sticks in temples is a significant PM exposure source. The geometric mean of personal exposure was 444 µg/m3 PM2.5 [geometric standard deviation (GSD) = 1.8] and 583 µg/m3 PM10 (GSD = 1.4). The latter was approximately 4–6 times that of roadside concentrations. Exposures on the 1st and 15th (with more visitors and more joss sticks) were about 130 µg/m3 PM2.5 and 249 µg/m3 PM10 higher than those on the 2nd and the 16th. Furthermore, each joss stick in the censer contributed about 0.40 µg/m3 of particles to the worshippers’ exposure. In the worst case, PM exposure during one temple visit would account for 11% of the personal exposure in one day.