February 2002
The Director - Features
The Chemical Components of Cremated Remains
The Results of a recently conducted project by the Cremation Association of North America
During a research project completed by the Cremation Association of North America, the cremated remains of an 84-year-old male were taken to an independent laboratory for testing, identification and to determine the relative quantity of each chemical making up the cremated remains. This project provides pertinent information of the chemicals present for use within Environmental Impact Statements (EIS), as well as information identifying the make-up of the fly ash and dusts potentially inhaled during the process.
The Chemical Components of Cremated Remains features the results of this research project. It includes a list of the chemicals identified in the cremated remains, which are presented in order of the greatest amount to the least amount of chemical found to make up the cremated remains tested.
The article also includes descriptions of respiratory diseases documented in employees having long-term occupational inhalation exposure to airborne particulate (dust) materials.
The article originally appeared in Cremationist, Vol. 36, No. 4, 2000, and has been reprinted in The Director with permission.
