TOXINS FROM CREMATORIUMS RAISE CONCERN

Without doubt, pollution caused worldwide from various sources is gigantic as compared to that caused by the crematoriums in terms of gaseous emissions and toxic compounds, but the cremation pollution assumes significance especially in the urban scenario.

There are scores of crematoriums in the city and they are not equipped with either pollution control or pollution monitoring devices. The worst part is that the same is going unnoticed as various government institutions pass the buck.

Experts maintain that both fumes as well as mineralised remains of human skeletons known as ‘cremains’ are sources of toxic pollution at crematoriums and greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide are released because of the wood and cremation of human body. “Toxic compounds of powdered or ashy cremains are spread by wind or water and ultimately find their way into the soil and get accumulated in the ecosystem,” said an official, adding that gaseous emissions are the main concern as these are released into the atmosphere and immediate surroundings of urban residential dwellings.

Amongst the polluting gases emitted during cremations are carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen and sulphur, hydrogen chloride and hydrogen fluoride and mercury which comes from dental fillings etc. Many of them are carcinogens. “Many heavy metals found in human bodies are also released into the ecosystems. There should be some sort of monitoring to check pollution from crematoriums,” said an official of APPCB. However, while APPCB maintains that crematoriums come under the purview of the GHMC, officials of the latter did not respond despite repeated attempts.