Mercury from crematoriums: human health risk assessment and estimate of total emissions in British Columbia.

Objectives: Mercury occurs in the environment as a result of natural processes and human activities, including when individuals with amalgam dental fillings are cremated. This work aimed to estimate the quantity of mercury emitted to the atmosphere from crematoriums in British Columbia (BC) and assess the human health risk.

Methods: A BC-specific emissions factor for mercury from crematoriums was developed and applied to an estimate of the quantity of mercury released annually to the atmosphere from crematoriums.