Speak Out: City Contemplates Crematory

At least one resident has expressed concern over the operating of a crematory on the property of Pierce Funeral Home and about 275 feet from the new Lee Square neighborhood and other homes.

Abby Femino is a Lee Square resident and addressed council Monday evening during a pubic hearing saying she was concerned about the impact on the air quality the operation might have.

"Our primary concern is air quality, particularly mercury emissions from the crematory," Femino said. "From the research that I've done...the EPA doesn't actually have a state or federal regulation for mercury emission."

Gifford Hampshire with Blankingship & Keith, P.C., a law firm representing the funeral home, which is located at 9606 Center Street, said it is common for crematories to be located in residential areas with no complaints, and the establishment will have to comply with state and federal regulations before the crematory can begin to operate.

Hampshire also said there remains a lack of good empirical data on mercury emissions as it pertains to the operating of a crematorium because it is something that is not on the Environment Protection Agency's (EPA) radar due to very low levels and the lack of a hazard presented.

But Femino said her research indicates otherwise and the last report by the EPA to congress on the subject of mercury emissions by a crematory is over 15 years old. 

Femino said she learned through her research that recent reports indicate the amount of mercury released by each cremated body is 2 to 3 grams and the mercury emissions from cremation is 3.3 tons annually— 11 times more than the EPA indicates.

"From the research that I've done, and the things I've learned, the EPA doesn't actually have a state or federal regulation for mercury emissions, If there is not a recognized safe level, then I'm not sure as to what the annual inspections will be monitoring for or what the air discharge permit is based on."

Femino, who is pregnant, said the crematory would be about 300 feet from her residence and visible from her bedroom window.

She said the Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports mercury, especially in a vaporized form, can reach people's brains directly and has a greater impact on the human fetus and small children, and poisoning can occur from chronic low level exposure.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a safe level of mercury exposure has yet to be established, Femino said.

Mercury is vaporized and emitted as an odorless, invisible gas during cremation when silver amalgam tooth fillings are incinerated.

Hampshire maintains these type of tooth fillings are expected to decrease as many people are choosing to opt for the more aesthetically pleasing ceramic fillings. But Femino said that while this may be true the level of mercury released during cremation is expected to increase in the near future because of the prevalent use of them among members of the baby boom generation and an increase in people choosing to be cremated at death.

As a result, Femino asked the city to impose a special condition requiring that the funeral home install advanced filtration systems that would better mitigate mercury emissions and ensure the safety of those nearby.

Council Member Marc Aveni made a motion to leave the public hearing open until the next regularly-scheduled council meeting March 12 in an effort to hear from the public and for city staff to gather more information on mercury.

So tell us, would you want to live near a crematory given the fact that there lacks empirical data on the health impact of mercury emissions produce by the cremation process? Tell us in the comments.