Temples selling uncertified ‘eco-friendly’ incense

SPIRITUAL POLLUTION:Two of the nation’s 10 most popular temples did not reduce incense use, which can harm the eyes, skin and respiratory system

A Consumers’ Foundation survey on how famous temples are working to reduce air pollution by limiting the use of incense for worship, suggested two of the 10 most popular temples did not reduce their number of incense pots and several temples sold uncertified “eco-friendly incense.”

As of December 2014, there were 12,106 registered temples nationwide and 1,237 in the Greater Taipei area.

The common mixed-use zoning of residential and commercial areas in Taipei means that air pollution from temples burning incense can directly affect the health of nearby residents, the foundation said.

Taipei’s Xingtian Temple enforced a policy banning incense burning and food offerings in August 2014, and several temples followed its eco-friendly policy by reducing incense pots or the number of incense sticks burned in each pot.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2016/01/16/2003637344