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lLt: - t:nvironrnentallnto. . ' ~~" >-- ~ -- ""' ....;L,..,........ ..:x(- . . . ;.-., ... . - -'-~'J7 . __.H 11<'" , . ~ . - . .~ , . .. ~~.~ J., ~ ~.~... :t..\."''";..r . ~ , . . .,j"":-~':"- >'~ _l1.ttp1Iwww.le,e~;,co~e~vlronL.ntm ""'-. . -.~ ,~ '.- -... . ,. - '.j.", \ ,I:', '~"'Ij,.' '.~r:' \ ':";-", ...". ,. CO _F~;", ,,'~ " ~ Nitrogen Oxides (NOX) These are gaseous pollutants created in the combustion process because of the presence of nitrogen in the air and in the materials being bumed. Control of NOX emissions from crematories is diffICult to achieve. Sulfur Dioxide (S02) LP gas, along with the remains and container, contain small amounts of sulfur, which can be released as sulfur dioxide during combustion. Natural gas contains lower levels of sulfur than LP gas. Coal buming power plants are major emitters of sulfur dioxide because of the high sulfur content.of the coal. Metals The metals regulated are cadmium, lead and mercury. The mercury comes mainly from dental fillings. Cadmium and lead are found in the remains in trace amounts and may be present in materials included with the container. Dioxins and Furans Dioxins and furans are complex compounds released from many different combustion sources. They are quite hazardous even in relatively small amounts. It is known that the presence of chlorine in the combustion process is an important factor for dioxin and furan formation. Ambient Dust Afthough not;~d by the EPA, ambient dust from the cremation p~;is .aeoncern for the operator. Dust becomes airborne when ,VEfinain&' swept---from a cremation chamber, placed into a processing unit and transferred to urns. Reducing Pollutant Output Just as knowing which pollutants are emitted from your cremator is important, it is also benefICial to know how your equipment reduces these pollutants and what other methods are available to reduce them further. How well a cremator reduces pollutant output depends largely on the design, upkeep and operation of the equipment. We will discuss several methods of reducing pollutant output. Each of the following methods is being utilized at cremator installations in the United States and Canada, although some are not as practical as others are. Scrutinizing Input One of the best methods of reducing pollutant output is also one of the easiest: scrutinizing the materials included with the remains and container for cremation. Non-chlorinated plastics should be requested whenever possible, so the amount of hydrogen chloride produced from the cremation can be minimized. It is also important to cremate the heaviest bodies first and to request from your clients that no unnecessary items be included in the cremation container. These practices minimize the chance of cremating at a speed that exceeds the capacity of the equipment, which can lead to visible emissions from the exhaust stack. Increasing Retention Time Retention time is how long the gases produced from cremation are held in the cremation equipment and exposed to proper temperatures (14000F - 30f9 8/1/01 8:04 AM