Crematoriums

Any place that burns something in its operation has the potential to create a hazard for the surrounding area. There are a few usual suspects that are obvious to most people, such as chemical factories, trash incinerators, and power plants. Smokestacks sticking out of facilities like these are common and visible. Usually, so is the smoke carrying the emissions away into the surrounding area. There is another type of business that usually operates openly in a neighborhood and does not stick out to the people nearby. People usually don’t pay too much attention to these businesses: crematoriums. 

 

Crematoriums, also known as crematories, operate under the radar. Many times, people may not have even known there is one in their neighborhood. Unless they had a reason to know where one was or received a notice for a zoning board or planning board hearing for a new one, they would never know. Crematoriums do not stand out. Because of this low profile, the hazards from crematories were not widely studied. It is now finally being investigated, and experts who understand the negative impact possible are raising a voice. 

 

A crematorium is simply a business where bodies are placed into a high temperature furnace until nothing remains but bone fragments and any metal, such as screws, fillings, implants, or jewelry. The process usually takes about 1.5-2 hours, depending on the weight of the body and the temperature of the furnace. Once the remains have had time to cool down, the operator removes and separates any metal mixed in with the bone fragments, either manually or with a magnet. The rest of the remains are then pulverized into a fine powder, otherwise known as the ashes. The ashes are then returned to the family of the deceased, if requested, in a vessel or urn of their choice. Some people keep these ashes of loved ones in their houses. Others may choose burial in a cemetery or other place; others spread the ashes to the winds. 

 

In many countries, the practice of cremation has been around for thousands of years. In the United States, it has only been gaining in popularity for maybe the past 50 years. That’s part of the reason not much attention was given to these facilities. In the past, they were not widely known and had little visible presence because not many people used cremation to dispose of a body or really understood what it was all about. Back in the 1970s, cremation was a choice for only about 5% of all funerals. In 2015, the percentage of cremations reached an all time high of 53.5% of all funerals. The National Funeral Directors Association expects the trend shifting from burial to cremation to continue over the next 20 years, with the projected rate of cremation reaching 78.8% of deaths by 2035, largely because the costs of cremation are much lower than a burial. That is going to drastically increase the need for many more cremation furnaces and crematories to handle this demand. 

 

In the past crematoriums offering this specific type of body disposal operated totally independently of funeral homes that offered more traditional burials. With the rapidly rising number of people choosing cremation and the decreasing profit margins doing only regular funerals, more funeral homes are adding cremation furnaces, driving a big increase in activity. Sensing opportunity, many funeral homes that have not had a cremation furnace are looking to add this to their operation. Currently, the estimate is only about 30% of regular funeral homes also have a cremation furnace. Another 9% say they are adding one over the next five years. 

 

Because crematories have gone so long without oversight, it is hard to estimate exactly how many are currently in operation in the United States.  and I tried to get an accurate figure by reaching out to the industry group for information. In response to our initial request, they said we did not describe what we wanted well enough. We tried a second time, specifically telling them all we wanted was a fairly accurate number of facilities to quote in an article we were writing. At the time we finished this section, they still had not responded to our request for numbers. With the extra scrutiny the cremation industry is starting to experience, it did not surprise us they were skeptical and chose not to respond. What we do know is that quite a few of the crematories are already operating at capacity trying to keep up with the increasing demand for cremation. Some of the larger ones now operate multiple furnaces or are adding a second or third. 

 

The numbers are hard to track down because, again, crematories have been largely invisible. In the past, there had only been some isolated instances when people in neighborhoods with crematoriums grew concerned over seeing occasional smoke and emissions from the furnaces. Lately, though, that has been creating controversy both with currently operating facilities and proposed crematories opening to meet the increasing demand.

 

With more investigation into what actually goes on at these facilities, concern is rising among people living near them. Is there a health risk associated with crematories?

 

The number of studies and research into health risks from crematories at this time is small. However, enough has already been done to form the basis for concerns moving forward. 

 

Part of the concern stems from the stricter regulations that crematories have been able to avoid having to comply with as other similar incinerators in other waste industries already have to. The lobbying group for crematories and funeral facilities may not be as powerful as many others, but they exert influence far beyond their size. Through the National Funeral Directors, crematories have managed to prevent disposal of human bodies from being classified as solid waste. This is a very important distinction because the classification eliminates regulations that otherwise would need to be followed as other industries do. Furthermore, because they are disposing of an entire body, they also have managed to escape regulations governing medical waste disposal facilities as well. There is some  oversight, but it is at best minimal and irregular. When oversight does occur, it is almost always done only during optimum operating conditions at the facility. Optimum operating conditions are when a piece of equipment is running absolutely perfectly, ensuring any tests or monitoring done during that period will show nothing but perfection to any observer. In reality, optimum operating conditions are rarely if ever met during regular operation, particularly after any equipment has been used in daily operation. 

 

The difference in classifications allows the operators of the crematorium to not have to meet stringent emission standards specific to the waste disposal industry. Following these regulations would force them to add expensive filtering and monitoring systems to their exhaust stacks. While almost all other industries that dispose of waste products have their emissions regulated by the EPA, the cremation industry does not. Even though the solid waste industry emission standards are inadequate and minimal by some accounts, at least there are some. The cremation industry argues it is not necessary to monitor their emissions because many crematory incinerators operate with double combustion chambers. Of the gases and compounds that escape destruction in the primary chamber, some get destroyed or reduced in the secondary chamber. Then, that air is vented directly to the atmosphere. While the second chamber is efficient at destroying more of what is sent through it, it does not incinerate metals, dioxins, and others. According to the Georgia State Health Department, small amounts of lead, cadmium, hydrochloric acid, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide are released. Those pass through and are vented through the exhaust to the outside air. 

 

In one memorable instance, a project manager for a crematory project applying for a permit to build a new crematorium in Weatherford, Texas told the town’s planning and zoning board more pollutants are emitted by a fast food restaurant than the proposed crematorium. This same project manager also told the planning board crematoriums are a heavily regulated industry in spite of that being the complete opposite of the truth. Unfortunately, the town board did not check the validity of these statements on their own but took the word of the applicant. In addition, there were almost no members of the public present at the meeting to refute the crematorium representative because the public stated they were not informed about the meeting in advance. Because of these misrepresentations, the board approved the permit, and the crematorium got a pass. The board did the town a disservice and exposed them to hazardous emissions that were not regulated in any way.

 

The most common objection people raise to crematoriums are the contaminants known to be in the emissions. As this example shows, the industry downplays their emissions, especially when presenting a request to build a new facility.

 

Our review of available research has found the following information on health risks related to living near a crematorium:

 

1. Mercury

 

This highly toxic metal is one of the top dangers crematories may present. In 2010, the EPA stated that toxins are released into the environment through the cremation of human bodies. The most dangerous of these is mercury. During the cremation process, the mercury in the body becomes vaporized into a colorless, odorless gas.

 

Mercury is especially dangerous in this heated, vaporized form because, when it is inhaled, it is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream and carried to the brain and other organs. As verified by the EPA, even very small amounts of mercury can be dangerous.

 

The typical response from the cremation industry is stating that the amount of mercury is so small it is not even measurable. However, as with many toxic substances, mercury is one that accumulates in the body. If every third body cremated contains 4-5 amalgam fillings, that adds a tiny amount at a time to the accumulation of inhaled vapors into the lungs of residents nearby.

 

The EPA does not regulate mercury emissions from crematories like other countries, such as the U.K., because when the EPA looked at the need to regulate, they depended on information the cremation industry gave claiming they do a good job of regulating themselves so government regulation would be unneeded. They do not mention it would be costly to the operator if they needed to install filters on their equipment and have resisted every effort to require them to do so. The cremation industry lobbying group uses that success on their website as a reason to join their group. To this day there are still no federal regulations on emissions from crematories despite the recognized fact that many pounds of mercury are emitted from crematories every year in every state. The nearby neighbors are continuously exposed to these emissions almost every time a cremation takes place. 

 

There have been attempts from some individual states to place some regulations on the industry to control emissions. In Minnesota, crematories emit almost 5% of the mercury emissions. While the amount is much less than coal fired power plants, it is far too much to ignore. Attempts, though, to enact regulations failed as they have in Maine as well. Colorado estimated crematories emit over 100 pounds of mercury a year but still does not have any regulations to control the emissions.

 

 and I reviewed an application submitted by a new crematory in 2017 in Vancouver, Washington.  It listed 11.4 pounds of mercury could be released into the air annually. That was the number the applicant stated based on the applicant’s calculations. Given that a few micrograms of mercury can be dangerous, 11.4 pounds is a significantly large number.

 

Mercury emissions are one of the most dangerous for young children and unborn babies in particular because their brains and nervous systems are still developing. Studies done by researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center found that close proximity to sources of mercury release were associated with increases in learning disabilities, autism, and rates of special education. Adults can also develop problems with their brains and nervous systems, as well as their lungs, kidneys, and immune system from mercury exposure.

 

Mercury is not destroyed by combustion. It simply changes forms. The two chamber combustion systems currently used in most crematories are incapable of removing mercury. In addition, government regulations do not require removal of mercury from these facilities, so there is no incentive to add additional equipment to deal with the issue.

 

The cremation industry is well aware of the mercury emissions issue as it is very widely spoken about at their conferences and organizations. Until the time comes that the lobbyists are unable to stop responsible politicians from protecting the public through regulations with teeth to them, this practice will continue as is.

 

2. Hazardous and Toxic Air Pollutants

 

In addition to mercury, there are over a dozen other toxins emitted from crematories. These include arsenic, hydrochloric acid, dioxin, furans, PCBs, naphthalene, and selenium. The list continues. The incineration process does destroy these pollutants, nor are they completely filtered out. 

 

The application for the proposed incinerator in Vancouver, Washington had a total of 20 toxic air pollutants listed as anticipated emissions for a total of 172 pounds per year. Many of these compounds are listed by the EPA as cancer-causing chemicals. Being exposed to small amounts, as may be through inhaling emissions, can potentially threaten the health of nearby residents. 

 

3. Pacemakers

 

Every year thousands of these devices are implanted into people. While much of the actual device is made of titanium and other harmless metals, pacemakers also contain silicone and polyurethane. Given all the potential for harmful emissions, it is good practice for these devices to be removed from the body before it is placed into the furnace. Unfortunately, this does not always happen. In many cases, the implant is not seen while the mortician prepares the body. Sometimes, the family may tell the crematory about a pacemaker; other times it is not brought up. When the pacemaker is subjected to high temperatures during incineration, it releases toxic compounds and dioxins from the burning plastic. 

 

Also, there have been cases of these devices exploding in the furnace. Pacemakers are usually powered with a lithium iodide battery. When these are subjected to the high temperatures in the furnace, the iodine expands, causing an explosion. A survey was sent out to over 200 directors at crematoriums asking if they had ever experienced an explosion caused by a pacemaker. Almost 47% of the respondents answered they had personally had that happen to them. Several said there was damage to the furnace as a result of the explosion. 

 

4. Replacement Joints

 

Many people in the past decade or two have received artificial joint replacements. These replacements are usually made of plastic and metal. The plastic most commonly used is polyethylene, and the metal is titanium and stainless steel. The same issues for burning pacemakers exist in burning artificial joints, except they do not explode. The plastic does incinerate and creates dioxins and other compounds that are emitted into the air and not completely filtered out during the process. 

 

5. Radioactive Patients

 

I added this section to the book when our research uncovered a particularly shocking instance of this happening. In 2017 at a crematory in Arizona, a person was cremated who had recently been given treatment for cancer with radiation. The crematorium, when tested, had levels of radioactive isotopes consistent with what would be found in a lab or medical center working with those substances. Recent radioactive treatments release radioactive isotopes. While the EPA has guidelines in handling bodies who have recently received chemotherapy treatments and other radioactive isotopes, there are instances when that knowledge is either not passed to the crematory or the crematory neglects to ask. 

 

According to the EPA, these radioactive isotopes are hazardous for up to one year after the last treatment was administered to the body being cremated. While the regulations cover how to handle the body and the ashes, it does nothing to regulate or prevent the escape of radioactive particles from the exhaust during the cremation process. The EPA suggests but does not require crematories to take readings of radiation levels in various places in their equipment, building, and around the ashes of the deceased.

 

A review of all the reputable scientific research and studies that have been done makes it clear that exposure to crematory emissions belong in a category of a substantial health risk. The current practice is to look at emissions data from a single cremation and base safety guidelines on that, but this is insufficient. Continuous exposure over a long period of time has cumulative effects, and it compounds what the people nearby are actually subjected to. 

 

At minimum, crematoriums do not belong near residential areas or schools where people will be exposed to emissions on an ongoing basis. Crematories should be reclassified as industrial operations that need to be regulated like similar operations that emit hazardous chemicals into the air. Until the state and federal government enact real regulations on this industry and truly monitor and limit their toxic emissions, local governments and residents need to protect themselves.