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Dissertation (PDF) DISSERTATION APPROVED BY Na^ Ln,zÕrq är4.%*x% J / Date ,rá*.Martin, Jr., Ph.D., c¡ui, Lynn Gibson, Ph.D., Committee Member J Moss Breen, Ph.D., Director Gail M. Jensen, Ph.D., Dean ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH CREMATORIA: A REVIEW ___________________________________ By BRAD WILLIAM KUCHNICKI ___________________________________ A DISSERTATION Submitted to the faculty of the Graduate School of the Creighton University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Education in the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies _________________________________ Omaha, NE (May, 2019) Copyright 2019, Brad William Kuchnicki This document is copyrighted material. Under copyright law, no part of this document May be reproduced without the expressed permission of the author. iii Abstract This study aims to educate both funeral industry practitioners and the general public about toxic emissions from crematoria as well as introduce sustainable practices to offset toxic emissions. Using publicly available data from four crematoria around the world, this study examines various factors associated with emissions including mercury, polychlorinated dibenzofurans, and Sulphur dioxide. The data was then converted to correlate the emissions results from the crematoriums to that of hazardous waste incineration. Due to the United States limited to non-existent regulations towards the industrial process of cremation, it was necessary to infer the data into a more relatable output. Although the modern cremation has been in practice for over a century, it can be said that measures to improve and mitigate impacts to the environment have moved quite slow. The conclusion of this research points towards continued studies; to engage leaders to consider the ramifications of the trends, especially when documented dangers of the by-product exist. iv Table of Contents Chapter One: Overview of the Dissertation in Practice Problem ................................................... 1 Statement of the Problem ................................................................................................................ 4 Purpose of the Study ....................................................................................................................... 7 Research Question(s) ...................................................................................................................... 8 Aim of the Study ............................................................................................................................. 8 Proposed Methodology ................................................................................................................... 8 Definition of Relevant Terms ......................................................................................................... 9 Summary ....................................................................................................................................... 12 Chapter Two: Literature Review .................................................................................................. 13 Emissions from Modern Crematoria ............................................................................................. 17 What is mercury (Hg)? .......................................................................................................... 19 What is PCDD/F? ................................................................................................................. 20 Fuels Used by Crematoria ............................................................................................................. 22 Liquid Propane/Butane (LPG) ...................................................................................................... 23 Natural Gas (NG) .......................................................................................................................... 23 Light Diesel Oil (LDO) ................................................................................................................. 23 Kerosene ....................................................................................................................................... 24 Fuel Energy ................................................................................................................................... 24 Fuel Type ...................................................................................................................................... 27 Environmental Communication .................................................................................................... 29 Community Concerns ........................................................................................................... 30 Emission Studies ........................................................................................................................... 32 v Chapter Three: Project Methodology............................................................................................ 37 Study Population and Sampling .................................................................................................... 39 Presentation of Data ...................................................................................................................... 40 Research Sites ............................................................................................................................... 40 Mount Pleasant Group of Cemeteries ........................................................................................... 41 Parndon Wood Crematorium ........................................................................................................ 43 Mercury Emission from Crematories in Japan ............................................................................. 44 Kwai Chung & Cape Collision Crematorium ............................................................................... 46 Data Collection ............................................................................................................................. 49 Data Analysis ................................................................................................................................ 49 Limitations of Study ..................................................................................................................... 52 Chapter 4: Results ......................................................................................................................... 54 Overview: Table 4.2. ..................................................................................................................... 56 Overview: Table 4.3. ..................................................................................................................... 57 Overview: Table 4.4 ...................................................................................................................... 57 Overview: Table 4.5 ...................................................................................................................... 58 Overview: Table 4.6 ...................................................................................................................... 59 Summary ....................................................................................................................................... 61 Chapter 5: Discussion and Conclusions ........................................................................................ 64 Major Findings .............................................................................................................................. 64 Data Interpretation ........................................................................................................................ 68 Implications for Action ................................................................................................................. 69 Recommendations for Further Research ....................................................................................... 72 vi Government................................................................................................................................... 72 Data Gathering by Crematoria Operators ..................................................................................... 73 Health Effects ................................................................................................................................ 74 Social issues .................................................................................................................................. 75 Uncertainty and Variability ........................................................................................................... 76 Concluding Remarks ..................................................................................................................... 77 References ..................................................................................................................................... 80 Footnotes ....................................................................................................................................... 93 Appendix ....................................................................................................................................... 94 Institutional Review Board ........................................................................................................... 94 Table 4.2 Canadian Crematorium Estimated Emissions
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