A crematorium poses numerous health hazards, including toxic vapors which can get into the water and earth and cause extreme illness and even death. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has stated that exposure to mercury/metallic vapor on the human body, even in chronic low doses, can cause all sorts of negative effects in adults, children and animals, such as birth defects in babies, neurological defects, damage or destruction of nerve tissue, effects to the the visual cortex and the cerebellum (brain section that controls movement and balance) and it can permanently damage or fatally injure the brain and kidneys, or cause death.

Mercury concentrations released into the outdoor air is not as much a concern but however when it lands on soil or water via rain or snow, it causes contamination.  "When mercury enters bodies of water, biological processes transform it to methylmercury, a highly toxic and bioaccumulative form. Fish can absorb methylmercury from their food and directly from water as it passes over their gills."

Besides now having dead bodies (human remains) aboard trucks driving through Bethel roads each month, the larger concern should be about the impact on the air quality in Bethel to humans and animals, and how far the pollution might travel, or if anyone has DONE (or plans on conducting) an air quality impact test. Or has anyone studied crematorium impact data, such as the amount of toxins in crematory emissions (for instance, mercury as a source of pollution through incinerated dental amalgam fillings). There is also a concern about communicative diseases of which the individuals might have passed.

A crematorium also negatively affects real estate values. There is also concern about how the increasing popularity of cremation will impact traffic and all of the above problems and quality of life.

DON'T LET THE DEAD KILL THE LIVING!