� Cremation is a Personal Choice Cremation is a Personal Choice � Even if we do not choose cremation Even if we do not choose cremation Clearly most of us do not want do not want to to Clearly most of us take that choice away from those take that choice away from those who want it. who want it.
We do do want the rapidly growing want the rapidly growing We Crematory Industry to Comply Comply Crematory Industry to with the Law and and Cooperate Cooperate with the Law with The Community toward a with The Community toward a common goal of safer, cleaner safer, cleaner common goal of cremation practices that reduce reduce cremation practices that the toxic burden on our air … … the toxic burden on our air
Stand up for the TRUTH Stand up for the TRUTH and do what is right for and do what is right for ALL of the Community ALL of the Community
Minimize the impact of this Minimize the impact of this PREVENTABLE source of PREVENTABLE source of Mercury and other Toxics Mercury and other Toxics
Community Community Awareness Awareness Network Network An Informed Citizen is one of the Last Great Vestiges of the Ame An Informed Citizen is one of the Last Great Vestiges of the American Ideal rican Ideal
WHO WE ARE – – CAN CAN WHO WE ARE ► C C – – Community Community ► ► A A – – Awareness Awareness ► ► N N – – Network Network ► ► P P – – Protecting Protecting ► ► R R – – Real Real ► ► E E – – Estate Estate ► ► P P – – Property Property and and ► ► A A – – Advocating Advocating for for ► ► R R – – Residential Residential ► ► E E - - Environments Environments ►
Primary Concern #1 Property Value Loss: Primary Concern #1 Property Value Loss: Penn State 2010 Economics Scientific Study concluded that a town in 2010 Economics Scientific Study concluded that a town in Penn State Wyoming suffered significant property value loss as a direct significant property value loss as a direct Wyoming suffered result of a crematory that began to operate there without the result of a crematory that began to operate there without the town’s awareness. The study also concluded that the affected areas the affected areas town’s awareness. The study also concluded that were within a tenth of a mile up to a mile away from the source from the source , , were within a tenth of a mile up to a mile away the property value the property value loss was attributed to the environmental loss was attributed to the environmental shock of the crematory emissions, health risks associated with the health risks associated with the shock of the crematory emissions, toxics, and the diminished quality of living for those affected . Value . Value toxics, and the diminished quality of living for those affected loss was determined to be dependant on the location in proximity loss was determined to be dependant on the location in proximity distance to the source, and the nature of the wind patterns and distance to the source, and the nature of the wind patterns and topographical features. It pays to be “Up- topographical features. It pays to be “Up -Wind” Wind” Yellow River Treatment Facility was the focus of a lawsuit here in was the focus of a lawsuit here in Yellow River Treatment Facility Georgia that was settled with the Property Value Loss of the Property Value Loss of the Georgia that was settled with the homes affected was equal to 20% of the original value . The homes affected was equal to 20% of the original value . The county resold those homes with a “Hold Harmless” clause. county resold those homes with a “Hold Harmless” clause.
Perception is Everything Perception is Everything Some sources have indicated the loss of the loss of the Some sources have indicated the property value in our area will be in our area will be as high as as high as property value 50% - - this number seems high, but is it? this number seems high, but is it? 50% Appraisers may not devalue the property based on Appraisers may not devalue the property based on an undesirable neighborhood business like a an undesirable neighborhood business like a funeral home with a crematory, but the buyer the buyer funeral home with a crematory, but determines the real market value , and the , and the determines the real market value perception is that many potential buyers would be perception is that many potential buyers would be greatly deterred from buying homes in this area. greatly deterred from buying homes in this area.
What’s the big deal , really? What’s the big deal , really? “How much harm can How much harm can “ one little crematory one little crematory possibly cause?” possibly cause?”
What Harm Can What Harm Can One Little Crematory Cause? One Little Crematory Cause? ► That depends on who you ask That depends on who you ask – – the the ► industry claims none … industry claims none … ► Independent studies indicate Independent studies indicate ► otherwise … otherwise … ► The homeowner next door will tell The homeowner next door will tell ► you, plenty of health risk and loss you, plenty of health risk and loss of the value & enjoyment of his of the value & enjoyment of his property property Still, let’s do the numbers … … Still, let’s do the numbers
What Harm Can One Little Crematory Cause? What Harm Can One Little Crematory Cause? ► CANA est. average CANA est. average ► crematory burns 400 400 crematory burns bodies per year bodies per year 1200 ► Average cremation Average cremation ► 1000 # p/yr releases around 3g 3g releases around cremated Mercury Vapors Mercury Vapors 800 ► 1 retort = 1 retort = 1200g 1200g yr yr ► Hg g ► EPA recently lowered EPA recently lowered 600 ► annual annual “Acceptable annual “Acceptable release Exposure Level” to Exposure Level” to 400 EPA 25g mercury mercury – – levels levels 25g "safe" over that amount are over that amount are 200 level considered harmful to considered harmful to health. 0 health. 1
Cremation Rates Cremation Rates are on the Rise are on the Rise 1975- - 7% 1975 7% 2004- - 30% 2004 30% 2025- 2025 - 50% 50%
Doing the Math … Doing the Math … ► Add an extra retort to the business, double the cremations poss Add an extra retort to the business, double the cremations possible ible ► per year, double the mercury vapors released per year. per year, double the mercury vapors released per year. ► Open several locations, serve other funeral establishments, $$ p Open several locations, serve other funeral establishments, $$ profits rofits ► increase, Mercury emissions increase. increase, Mercury emissions increase. ► EPA’s acceptable exposure level EPA’s acceptable exposure level – – “safe zone” remains the same “safe zone” remains the same - - ► <25g annually <25g annually 8000 7000 # p/yr 6000 cremated 5000 Hg g 4000 annual 3000 release EPA 2000 "safe" 1000 level 0 1 2 6
Crematoriums are profitable businesses to own! Crematoriums are profitable businesses to own! Their numbers can only be expected to increase Their numbers can only be expected to increase To meet the demand of a growing market … To meet the demand of a growing market …
Georgia - - 80 licensed crematoriums 80 licensed crematoriums Georgia 100000 90000 # p/yr 80000 cremated 70000 60000 Hg g 50000 annual 40000 release 30000 EPA 20000 "safe" 10000 level 0 1 80 This number reflects licensed facilities This number reflects licensed facilities and is not the actual number of retorts in GA and is not the actual number of retorts in GA
80 Licensed Crematoriums in GA 80 Licensed Crematoriums in GA Belching out the equivalent of nearly 4,000 times the Belching out the equivalent of nearly 4,000 times the maximum “safe” exposure levels of mercury vapors per maximum “safe” exposure levels of mercury vapors per year, all over residences and schools year, all over residences and schools – and the numbers are only expected to rise … – and the numbers are only expected to rise …
Symptoms of mercury poisoning Symptoms of mercury poisoning 1. Psychological disturbances 1. Psychological disturbances Angry fits, short term memory loss, low self esteem, Angry fits, short term memory loss, low self esteem, inability to sleep, loss of self- -control, sleepiness. Loss of an control, sleepiness. Loss of an inability to sleep, loss of self ability to learn new things, doing things by rote. ability to learn new things, doing things by rote. 2. Oral Cavity problems 2. Oral Cavity problems Inflammation of the mouth, loss of bone around teeth, Inflammation of the mouth, loss of bone around teeth, ulcerated gums and other areas in the mouth, loose teeth, ulcerated gums and other areas in the mouth, loose teeth, darkening of gums, taste of metal, bleeding of gums. darkening of gums, taste of metal, bleeding of gums. 3. Digestive tract problems 3. Digestive tract problems Cramps, inflamed colon, GI problems, Diarrhea and other Cramps, inflamed colon, GI problems, Diarrhea and other digestive problems. digestive problems.
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