Cremation and the number of crematoria are on the rise in the U.S. The Cremation Association of North America estimated that there were 1,971 crematoria operating in the U.S. in 2005, burning 32% of human deaths. See their statistics page for more information. There are similar hazards associated with pet crematoria and with animal carcass incinerators (often associated with research universities where animal testing occurs).When burning humans or other animals, there are toxic emissions associated with it, particularly when the following contaminants are an issue:
- any mercury amalgam dental fillings which haven't been removed
- organohalogens (dioxins, furans, etc.) and other toxics accumulated through diet and other exposures (this is unavoidable, though a vegan/vegetarian diet will minimize exposure and toxin accumulation)
- any plutonium pacemakers which haven't been removed
- silicone breast implants, which can contain PVC, Methylene Chloride and other toxic chemicals
- other metal or plastic implants in humans
- radioactive or toxic tracers or testing chemicals from animal experimentation (for animal carcass incinerators)
- metal or plastic implants of tracking chips in pets (for pet crematoria)
A great general resource site on crematoria pollution issues is: No Crematory
Health Studies
- This 2003 study shows that the risk of stillbirth was 4% higher and the risk of the life threatening brain abnormality anencephalus was 5% higher among babies whose mothers lived near to crematoria. More details here.
- Canada's Interior Health Authority did a literature review and "concluded that fumes from crematoriums are potentially harmful and that they should not be located close to a residential area." It also "found that particulate matter, which can be inhaled deep into lung tissue, is the chief threat." (see "Put a lid on fumes from cremation," Vancouver Sun, 5/12/2006)
- Public Health Impact of Crematoria (report by Chief Medical Officer of British Columbia outlining mercury, dioxin, particulate matter and other emissions concerns; report states that crematoria could have a negative impact on health and should not be located in residential neighborhoods)
Mercury Emissions
- Summary of References on Mercury Emissions from Crematoria (November 3, 2008 - by John Reindl, P.E., retired from Dane County, Wisconsin Department of Public Works; please send comments and feedback here)
- Conclusions of Grinnell community residents studying mercury emissions from crematoria (good compilation of research on crematoria mercury emissions; see documentation and links at bottom of page)
- Crematoria in the UK emit 11% of all the mercury released by industry and power plants (Your fillings will live on after your death to kill the environment, Sunday Herald, UK, 2/11/2001)
- Mercury emissions from crematoria (UK Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs report, 2003)
- 2005 study shows that crematoria can't meet mercury and dioxin limits
- Public Health Impact of Crematoria (report by Chief Medical Officer of British Columbia)
- Executive Summary of the "Roadmap For Mercury" (US Environmental Protection Agency, 2006)
- An Overview of Mercury Toxicity (Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection; 2008)
- Chemical Profile for Mercury (Health impact info from Scorecard.org)
- Mercury Fact Sheet (NJ Department of Health)
Mercury Amalgam Fillings:
- Consumers for Dental Choice
- Dental Amalgam Mercury Syndrome
- The Environmental Effects of Amalgam Fillings Affect Everyone
Removal of Mercury Amalgam Fillings Prior to Cremation:
- Sweden: Pull Mercury from Mouths of Dead (Planet Ark, 5/21/2004)
- California: Pulling Teeth (From the June 8-14, 2000 issue of Metro, Silicon Valley's Weekly Newspaper)
Dioxin
- EPA data on dioxin emissions from crematoria (crematoria-related excerpts from EPA's Dioxin Inventory)
- 2005 study shows that crematoria can't meet mercury and dioxin limits
- Public Health Impact of Crematoria (report by Chief Medical Officer of British Columbia)
- Dioxin Homepage
In EPA's 2000 Inventory of Dioxin Emissions in the U.S. (published March 2005), they estimate that crematoria emit 410 ng of dioxin TEQ (Toxic Equivalents) per body.
This equates to as much dioxin as burning:
- 3,205 pounds of tires;
- 320 pounds of trash in a trash incinerator; or
- 426 pounds of hazardous waste in a hazardous waste incinerator
Source: p1-40 in Chapter 1 of EPA's Dioxin Inventory
Ordinances Used to Combat Crematoria
Two crematoria were stopped by local governments in Pennsylvania in 2006 and 2007 through the use of local air pollution ordinances. West Reading Borough passed an ordinance requiring continuous monitoring of mercury emissions, real-time reporting of emissions data on a website and establishing strict emissions limits. Kulpmont Borough later passed a similar ordinance, regulating both mercury and dioxins and creating a 900-foot set-back requirement from residential properties. See ActionPA's ordinance page for details.
Green Burial
There are green burial options that don't require incineration and which don't have the problems associated with modern cemetaries. For details, see the following websites:
- Green Burial
- Green Burial Council and their Frequently Asked Questions
- Grave Matters book on green burial
- NPR interview with author of Grave Matters book
- Promessa is the Swedish invention of freeze-drying a corpse, pulverizing it, separating metals (tooth fillings, replacement hips) for recycling, and composting the remaining organic material within a year, with the option of having the buried remains feed and become a tree. This appears to be the most 'green' form of disposition. Read about how it's done.