Published: Thursday, 19th June, 2008 08:55
Fillings become a burning issue for crematorium
By Laura Cummings
Comments (1)
Print Article
THE COST of cremations in Fife could be set to spiral following a hike in the number of Fifers with dodgy teeth being cremated.
An increase in the number of people being cremated in Fife who have amalgam fillings in their teeth has led to an increase in mercury emissions which are harmful to humans and even unborn babies.
In an attempt to curb the problem environmental protection legislation has stated there must be a 50 per cent reduction in mercury emissions from crematoria across the UK by 2012.
As a result £600,000 will be spent on Kirkcaldy Crematorium and £600,000 on Dunfermline Crematorium to install special filtering systems to meet the targets imposed.
Bereavement services manager for Fife Liz Murphy explained, “Mercury is actually the amalgam in peoples’ fillings that changes during the cremation process and produces mercury. It goes up into the atmosphere and goes around the world a couple of times before it goes down into the ocean where it comes back into the food chain.
“The generations of people that are coming through the system now do have a higher number of fillings in their teeth. Now dental practice has improved and they’re not using amalgam within fillings now. But for this period of time for the next 20 years we have to be seen to filter as much of it out as we can.”
She continued, “There probably will be an impact on the cost of cremations but we don’t know as yet what that will be.”
Initially mercury abatement equipment will be used to extract mercury from the cremation process at Kirkcaldy Crematorium.
Special filters will be fitted to the existing equipment at the rear of the crematorium.
Similar work at Dunfermline Crematorium will start after the work at Kirkcaldy is complete.
Labour councillor for Dunfermline south, Mike Rumney, claimed Fife Council’s administration had decided to spend the required £600,000 per crematorium only in Kirkcaldy and spend nothing on Dunfermline Crematorium.
But Lib Dem councillor for Dunfermline south, Tony Martin, said Mr Rumney had misunderstood the decision taken at last Thursday’s policy, finance and asset management committee meeting, and that £600,000 would also be spent from the next budget on installing the equipment at Dunfermline Crematorium.
He explained, “We will be doing Dunfermline Crematorium but we can’t do both at the same time for obvious reasons. We will phase the Dunfermline one after the Kirkcaldy one. We have had to delay it because we have had to phase it.
“There’s no danger to our staff or people living around there. We have to comply with the legislation and we will do that. We would meet the criteria if we just did one crematorium but it’s still the administration’s intent to carry out work at Dunfermline Crematorium at a later phase in order to reduce mercury emissions at Dunfermline.”
Mrs Murphy added, “Because we have two crematoriums (in Fife) we are classed as a cremation authority so by putting equipment in at Kirkcaldy that gives us the 50 per cent requirement.
“There are a higher number of cremations at Kirkcaldy compared to Dunfermline. Initially it makes more sense to abate at Kirkcaldy to reach the initial abatement requirements.”
According to the National Association of Funeral Directors, mercury is known to be toxic and can damage the brain, kidneys and nervous system, while unborn babies are believed to be particularly susceptible to its effects.
Work on installing the filter system at Kirkcaldy Crematorium will start within the next year to 18 months.
Del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon
'Too sexy' shop finally opens in Dunfermline