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For thousands of years people have used cremation as a way to send off the dead. The process of burning a corpse in a religious or secular ceremony is still a common tradition for many around the world. However, like most practices passed down from one generation to the next, modern technology and environmental awareness make it necessary to examine the impact of cremation on the living.
There is no denying that cremation provides some significant land preserving benefits. First, the process saves a good deal of ground space. With the U.S. population as well as its waistline growing, not only will the number of burial plots increase each year, so will the size of those plots. Large cemeteries and burial spaces decrease the amount of usable land available to us. The expansion of burial areas also results in the destruction of forests and wildlife habitats.
The second land benefit is that cremation eliminates the need for the embalming process. As such, the chemical preservatives used to maintain the body will not leak into the soil and contaminate ground water. Polluted ground water can negatively affect local plant and animal life. The long term impact is however, to larger water sources which ultimately provide us with drinking water.
Even with these great benefits, there are some downsides. The cremation process can be detrimental to the atmosphere. Crematories release several pollutants into the air including nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide. Additionally, crematorium workers often do not remove dental fillings which pollute the air with mercury. Overexposure to mercury can be particularly dangerous to the central nervous system. While coal burning power plants discharge much more mercury into the atmosphere than crematoriums, it is still important to consider the consequences.
Though cremations save space they also use a tremendous amount of energy. The process of burning a corpse can take 2 to 21/2 hours. This can only begin when the temperature of the crematory is between 1400 and 1800 degrees Fahrenheit. Some crematoriums offer multi-body cremations to the bereaved who understand the drain on the environment. Those families who give their consent have their loved ones remains stay at the facility until there are a number of other bodies ready for cremation.
In the end, if you decide that cremation is a viable option for you or a loved one, be sure to speak with the director of your local facility. Find out what considerations are made for the environment during their process. Ask if they can remove fillings or surgically implanted metal plates and screws. You can also request more information on their crematory emission system. The answers you receive could help you make the most informed decision possible.
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