Crematorium Clean Up Needed to Reduce Mercury Levels

11.35.21am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 14th Oct 2005

Bedford's Crematorium is to take steps to reduce the amount of Mercury it emits as part of a national scheme to improve air quality.

Lib Dems on the council's Board of Bereavement Care are backing the plans which are necessary if the target of a 50% reduction in Mercury emissions by 2012 is to be achieved. The effects of mercury exposure can be very severe. If no action is taken it has been estimated that crematoria would be responsible for between 11 and 31% of UK mercury emissions to air. The emissions are a result of amalgam dental fillings.

DEFRA has only recently requested mercury emissions to be reduced and has left it down to individual crematoria whether they want to install equipment to reduce the level as well as introducing a scheme to minimize the costs to those authorities that choose the abatement route.

Speaking on the recommendation that Bedford's Crematorium be one of those choosing to reduce its Mercury emissions Bedford Board of Bereavement Care member, Cllr Paul Smith said:

"The effect of metal mercury on nervous systems, particularly of the young, can be very severe indeed. It's widely anticipated that levels that are emitted nationally will rise massively in the next few years. It's essential we do everything possible to cut back the amount of Mercury released into the atmosphere. These measures and purchase of air filtration equipment will seek to drastically cut the levels that are emitted by the crematorium. It's part of a national scheme because levels need to be reduced across the country if there is going to be any impact. Working with others means we'll also be able to keep costs down so we'll get cleaner air for cheaper than it would cost to go it alone. Failure to take action could mean we get penalised and we continue to release harmful amounts of mercury."

ENDS