Environmental and Health Concerns of Modern U.S. Burial Practices

Modern U.S. burial practices, though steeped in cultural and religious traditions, carry a significant environmental burden. Traditional in-ground burials often involve embalming, the use of non-biodegradable caskets, and the allocation of vast tracts of land for cemeteries, all of which raise serious environmental concerns. Embalming fluid, which commonly contains formaldehyde, presents a particularly troubling issue. Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen, and its seepage into the soil from buried bodies can contaminate groundwater, posing long-term public health risks.