STAMPA ANN_06_34_Santarsiero

INTRODUCTION Mercury has been recognized as having adverse effects on the environment and human health. Solid scientific evidence has justified the need for international agreements for the reduction of mercury emission [1]. The environmental impact of mercury may not only be limited to areas in close proximity to the source of emission. Mercury can easily volatilize and related emissions could spread over long distances from the source. Therefore, some mercury pollution of a local nature, viewed in the short term, adds to global mercury pollution in the long term, as it can be transported through air and through the food chain (especially via fish). Mercury is used in a broad range of products and processes. Dental amalgam has been recognized as a large global consumer of Hg, after chlor-alkali, smallscale gold mining, and batteries [2]. Within the framework of the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the NorthEast Atlantic (known as the “OSPAR Convention”) [3], the OSPAR Background Document on Mercury and Organic Mercury Compounds [4] recognizes that the mercury emitted from crematoria arises from the volatilization of the dental amalgam in teeth of corpses during cremation. Emissions from crematoria are not covered by European Union (EU) regulations, but have been the subject of the OSPAR Recommendation. In fact, the OSPAR do cument, namely OSPAR Recommendation 2003/4 on Controlling the Dispersal of Mercury from Crematoria [5] in the OSPAR Convention Area, published in 2003, identifies crematoria as producing a significant source of mercury in the environment and lists various options, in terms of the best available technologies (BAT) to reduce and control mercury emissions. The reports on emissions made by parties involved with this Recommendation, will provide an indication of the effectiveness and if further action is needed. Similar checks are encouraged in other EU member states where cremation takes place, although currently, matters of crematoria are the responsibility of local Authorities. There is a lack of literature on emissions from crematoria and the amount of available data is sparse and based primarily on rough estimates. One possible reason could be that the mercury emissions are small and therefore there is no need to undertake such research; the other reason being the great difficulty in performing such a study due to various cultural, societal confidential and ethical reasons. This does not permit the dental status of individuals to be made known prior to cremation for studies. In fact, the practice of cremation raises sensitive cultural, ethical, and societal issues, since there are different attitudes and approaches among the countries that have to be respected. Mercury emission from crematoria