Half a Million Plastic Coffins? More?
From the CDC:
Do not cremate a decedent whose body contains man-made radioactive material. When a decedent is cremated all volatile materials escape up the refractory. After completion of cremation the crematory staff will manually pulverize the ashes before returning the remains to family members. Non-volatile radioactive material poses an airborne respiratory hazard to the crematory staff plus a risk of contaminating the crematorium. Shrapnel or brachytherapy seeds will not be destroyed in the process of cremation. If cremation is desired and the source is shrapnel, brachytherapy seeds, or some other discrete source, surgically remove it.
CDC makes these suggestions instead:
"When the investigation at the scene is complete, they will place the body into a body bag. Some jurisdictions use plastic remains containers for the body bags (Figure 9). This is recommended, because the team can transport the body bag out of the area and lower it into the plastic container. The exterior of the container is clean and can be transported out of the controlled area without spreading contamination."
"Decedents (bodies) are normally transported in sealed containers. The standards imposed by the airlines or by states for transport of uncontaminated remains are more than adequate."
"Select a burial container that will delay the release to the environment as long as practicable. Wooden caskets are not sealed. Metal caskets have a seal that will release pressure from inside the casket, but will retard the entry of ground water. Place the body in a metal casket, not a wooden one, and place the casket in a concrete vault lined with plastic. Use the type that has a lid with a butyl compound gasket with a tongue in groove seal (Figure 14). In the cemetery, place the lid on the vault above ground where it can be inspected for a tight fit before lowering into the grave."
