The Hidden Pollutants That Lie Beneath Cemetery Grounds Are Way More Alarming Than Ghosts Or Vampires And Are Spurring Conversations About More Environmentally Conscious Burial Practices

But in certain environments, such as regions that are prone to flooding, contamination dangers are obvious.

Plus, with resting grounds sometimes being converted into playgrounds, parks, or even being surrounded by population-dense developments, environmental scientists have expressed a growing interest in getting to the bottom of what truly lies beneath cemetery grounds.

Primarily, any soil where bodies are buried will differ from surrounding regions. And these hidden signatures can actually last for centuries or even thousands of years. Some researchers have coined these cemetery soils, which carry significantly higher nutrient concentrations, with the name “necrosols.”

Still, one of the more frightening things cemetery soil can contain are actually microbes. And a few documented instances during the nineteenth century will paint the picture of why these microorganisms are so alarming.

Back then, it was not entirely uncommon for cemeteries to contaminate the urban water supply. Cholera, for instance, would often seep from deceased bodies into drinking water.

And in the 1860s, residents of Berlin who lived close to cemeteries were at an increased risk of catching typhoid fever.

And even though these occurrences may seem like a thing of the past, modern cemeteries today are still filled with all kinds of potential contaminants.

For instance, every single year in the United States, over one hundred thousand tons of steel are buried in cemeteries along with the deceased.

Wood preservatives, radioactive medical devices, paints, silver, zinc, bronze, hip replacements, and countless other debris are also stuck underground, too.

We cannot forget about embalming fluid, either, which at one point contained arsenic– and even gradually seeped into the dirt. And the formaldehyde used today– which is a carcinogen– is not much better.

Finally, the corpses themselves will ultimately secrete toxic compounds known as cadaverine and putrescine. These compounds are what cause the foul-smelling odor during decomposition.