The Environmental Impact and Health Concerns of Flame-Based Cremation
While flame-based cremation emerged as a sanitary solution to the public health challenges associated with traditional burial practices, it has its own set of environmental and health concerns. As cremation has grown in popularity, these issues have become more pressing, prompting a reevaluation of its sustainability and impact on both human health and the environment.
Two of the primary environmental concerns associated with flame-based cremation are the consumption of natural gas as well as the emission of greenhouse gases. Cremation is energy-intensive by nature; the large amounts of fuel, typically natural gas, deplete the finite resource and further increase greenhouse gas emissions (Boyer, 2017). Make no mistake, natural gas is finite: According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), proven reserves of natural gas could only last around 50 years at current consumption levels (IEA, 2020). As demand for energy continues to rise, particularly in developing countries, the depletion timeline may accelerate, underscoring the need to transition to more sustainable energy sources. The process of incinerating a human or animal body requires a significant amount of energy, and then releases carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere as a byproduct of the process. It is estimated that each (human) cremation emits between up to 400 kilograms of CO2, contributing to global warming (Funeral Consumer Alliance, 2018). The pollution from incinerating one human body is comparable to a 500-mile car trip (Coutts, 2011)
CO2 is not the only concerning emission: the process can release other harmful pollutants, including mercury from dental fillings, which can enter the air and pose health risks to those in the surrounding community (Gibson, 2007). Mercury released from cremation can also accumulate in water bodies after returning to the surface in via rain, and can then enter the food chain, leading to mercury poisoning (Cox et al., 2010). When settled in water, mercury can be converted into methylmercury, a toxic compound that accumulates in fish and other aquatic organisms. When humans consume contaminated fish, they are exposed to methylmercury, which can cause neurological and developmental problems, especially in children and pregnant women (EPA, 2021).
Another environmental issue is the significant use of nonrenewable resources. The construction and operation of cremation facilities require materials like steel and concrete, whose production is energy-intensive and contributes to the depletion of natural resources. Furthermore, the energy required to maintain the high temperatures needed for cremation further strains these resources (Matthews Cremation, 2016).
Given these concerns, it is essential to consider alternatives to flame-based cremation, such as aquamation (alkaline hydrolysis), which has a significantly lower environmental impact. Flame-based cremation served a purpose when it entered the US in the late 1870s, but perhaps 150 years of advancement can allow all of us to re-think “the way it has always been done”.
References
Boyer, C. (2017). Environmental impacts of cremation. Journal of Environmental Health, 80(3), 20-25.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (2021). Mercury and methylmercury. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/mercury/mercury-and-methylmercury
Coutts, C. (2011). Sustainable urban planning: A case study of North American practices. Sustainability, 3(6), 945-960. https://doi.org/10.3390/su3060945
Cox, R., Little, D., & Scott, J. (2010). Mercury emissions from cremations: Understanding the problem and its solutions. Journal of Environmental Management, 91(5), 1166-1172.
Funeral Consumer Alliance. (2018). Cremation and the environment. Retrieved from https://www.funerals.org/cremation-and-the-environment
Gibson, G. (2007). Mercury emissions from crematoria: A review of options for management. Environment International, 33(8), 994-1002. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2007.03.006
International Energy Agency (IEA). (2020). World energy outlook 2020. Retrieved from https://www.iea.org/reports/world-energy-outlook-2020
Matthews Cremation. (2016). The environmental impact of cremation. Retrieved from https://www.matthewscremation.com/environmental-impact
