Full Length Research Paper

Effect of addition of Asiatic clam (Corbicula fluminea) shell in incense material on mitigating air pollutants

Chi-Ru Yang ¹*, Yen-Shun Peng², Yih-Feng Chang³ and Sun-Zone Lee¹

¹Department of Environmental Engineering and Science, Chia-Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan 71710, Taiwan.

²Department of Environmental Resources Management, Chia-Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan 71710, Taiwan.

³Department of Tourism Management, Chia-Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan 71710, Taiwan.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: cryang@mail.chna.edu.tw. Tel: +886 6 2664911 ext 6414. Fax: +886 6 2669090.

Accepted 22 March, 2011.

Abstract

Particulate matter (PM) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) emissions of burning incense have been investigated on the quality of surrounding air. However, the reduction of PM and PAHs from burning incense has received little attention. In the present study, two types of incense were made in the laboratory. Five to thirty percent of Asiatic Clam Shell (ACS) was added to Liao and Chen wood flours, which are popular incense materials. Experimental results indicate that the reduction of emissions of PM and PAHs from burning incense increased with increasing amount of ACS additive. Mean PM reductions for 5.0, 10.0, 20.0, and 30.0% of ACS were 11, 15, 26, and 40%, respectively. Mean PAH reductions were 9, 15, 22, and 28% for particle-phase PAHs, respectively, and 5, 21, 22, and 30% for benzo[a]pyrene equivalent concentration, respectively. These results may be attributed to ACS acted as filler in the burning incense. ACS was substituted for organic material in the incense reducing PM and PAHs emissions from the smolder. The findings of this study may serve as a guide to producing safer and less-polluting incense.

Key words: Incense, Asiatic Clam Shell, PM, PAHs, benzo[a]pyrene equivalent concentration.