woodland/green burials

[wildone]

Hi All

Was listening to a programme on the radio last night about the amount of harmful chemicals that have been found in animals and humans. Even creatures like polar bears. The thing was that these chemicals have been banned for upwards of 50 years and yet they are still in the food chains. What I am now wondering is if a green/woodland burial is so good as it is putting these chemicals back into the soil. Thoughts anyone, please.

wildone

[Tinkerbell]

I understand, also, that if you ask permission to scatter ashes at some places in Britain, the request is refused on the grounds that too many have been distributed and it is not good for the area - I suppose in similar terms ie not good for the soil. Does this make sense?

Tink

[wildone]

I understand that they tend to be places like professional football grounds. I remember hearing about the problem at 'I think' Manchester City (or was it United) and a few other places which are or were very popular. I don't think it is too general a problem.

[DL]

Scattering ashes in National Parks, on protected sites and up the hill has become a bit of a hot topic. Mentioned here, scroll down to the last paragraph Ash Scattering Issues -


http://www.mountaineering-scotland.o...memorials.html

[Alan]

When archeologists dig up human remains they are often able to tell what they did, or where the person came from by the presence of toxic chemicals in the bones. Ones such as lead or arsenic are often found in the bones of people who used to smelt copper/tin for weapons etc. So pollution is not just a modern thing!

[wildone]

I was thinking more of green interment rather than the problem with ashes. Did wonder if incineration would 'kill' the chemicals whereas to bury the body presumably the chemicals would still get into the upper food chains. My problem was how best to try and mitigate the effects of DDT and other P.O.P.s. Although there will be a trade off with cremation of burning fossil fuels (gas usually) but if that will get rid of the chemicals then is that in fact the greener answer.

[Alan]

You can't really get rid of chemicals as such! They are just broken down and dispersed throughout the planet as different elements. It's just depends in what combinations they're mixed! By us usually! They just need to be neutralized some how.

I think I'm drifting a bit aren't I..... sorry

ChemicalAlan/Ali

[wildone]

No that is the sort of thing I want to know about. I wondered if burning will alter the chemicals so that they will break down either in soil or water and be less harmful. Obviously the ones I am concerned about are made by humans and are now to be found everywhere. The fact that we humans also carry a cocktail of P.O.Ps. in our bodies made me try to find out the best way to dispose of the body to do the least harm to the planet.

[Alan]

I think unless the chemicals are really toxic or radiocative, nature is quite good at breaking things down. Plastics and other oil-derived chemicals are more of a problem they can't be readily broken down. I know there has been some research into bacteria that may be able to do this, but these would be artificially made, so could cause their own problems! It would certainly sort out the huge mountain of plastics produced though!

[wildone]

Alan, apparently the chemicals are related to DDT, Aldrin etc and do not break down naturally. Hence my thinking that they might break down or be changed to less permanent or harmful structures by burning. It appears that many of these chemical are carcenogenic so we really do not want them to remain as they are if there is a way of ridding the planet of some of them. As Tesco says 'Every little helps'.

[Alan]

I know some of the new generation of incinerators actually re-burn their own waste! I believe this means that the only thing they produce out of their chimneys is heat/water vapour! Any other remaining slag/debris left may also be a lot safer! This might be the only way forward, but they are very expensive to build. This is probably the only way forward with regard general rubbish as well, especially as we are running out of landfill sites!