When discussing the negative impacts of cremating human remains, most conversations focus on mercury, dioxins, and high concentrations of particulate matter. However, carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions are often overlooked. Elevated CO₂ emissions are a significant environmental concern and can be harmful to human health.
Short-term effects of CO₂ exposure include:
- Headaches and dizziness
- Difficulty breathing and asphyxiation
- Sweating and increased heart rate
- Confusion and reduced cognitive function
Long-term effects of CO₂ exposure include:
- Chronic lung conditions
- Kidney and bone disorders
- Cardiovascular issues
- Brain damage
A single cremation typically releases a substantial amount of concentrated CO₂ in a localized area. Depending on the size of the body, estimates suggest that approximately 600 pounds of CO₂ can be emitted per cremation. This is equivalent to the emissions from driving a diesel truck over 600 miles. A typical cremation lasts about two hours—during which most cars could travel around 120 miles on the highway. This comparison reveals that cremation produces about five times more emissions in the same time frame. Unlike vehicles, which disperse emissions over distance, crematoriums are fixed in place, causing concentrated impacts on local air and water quality.
A double-incinerator crematorium processing four bodies per day could produce approximately 4,800 pounds of CO₂ daily. This is comparable to the emissions from a diesel truck driving from Middletown to Las Vegas and back—roughly a three-day round trip—compressed into just eight hours.
We must do everything we can to block this dangerous and hazardous proposal.
