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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />(mercury, lead, cadmium), all of can be toxic to the human body in high doses. The <br /> <br />report also stated that crematoriums emit dioxins and furans, which "are quite hazardous even in <br /> <br />relatively small amounts." Additional materials submitted to the city council stated that the <br /> <br /> <br />cremation of persons who have received brachytherapy, a type of cancer treatment, would emit <br /> <br /> <br />radioactive material. <br /> <br />The likely emission of mercury from the crematorium was discussed at length during the <br /> <br /> <br />meeting. Jackson stated that mercury is "not toxic to you as you first get it, the problem is, it <br /> <br /> <br />builds up in our environment, and its presence in the environment is the problem we face." <br /> <br />Jackson also stated that there is no "readily acceptable method of adding control equipment to <br /> <br /> <br />the crematory itself to deal with mercury." When questioned about the long-terrn effect of <br /> <br />mercury build-up, Jackson stated, "Mercury is a neurotoxin. At very low thresholds we're <br /> <br /> <br />concemed about the fetal development in pregnant women." <br /> <br /> <br />A resident, who fom1erly worked in the safety equipment industry, presented tables from <br /> <br /> <br />"a quasi-govemment agency called the Congress of Industrial Hygienists." According to these <br /> <br /> <br />tables, both mercury and hydrogen chloride "are considered to be IDHL, immediately dangerous <br /> <br />to health and life." The resident also testified that under the statistics provided to the city, the <br /> <br /> <br />crematorium would release 22 pounds of hydrogen chloride per year and 1/3 of a pound of <br /> <br />mercury per year. Another resident, referring to table listing the EP A's drinking water <br /> <br /> <br />standards, stated, "Dioxins they prefer to see as a goal, zero, as the amount in drinking water, <br /> <br />and. . . [.]000003 parts per mil1ion is the maximum allowed." <br /> <br /> <br />During the meeting, there were questions raised regarding the radioactive particles that <br /> <br />would result from the cremation of persons who had received brachytherapy. Brachytherapy is <br /> <br />a procedure used to treat cancer where radioactive "seeds" are implanted in or around a <br /> <br />cancerous tumor. Patrick Hogan of the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Crematorium stated that his <br /> <br />http://www.courts.state.mn.us/opinions/coa/current/opa040672-1123.htm <br /> <br />11/23/2004 <br />