More About Air Quality + Sources
Environmental Agencies (EPA and State Agencies) do not distinguish between pet and human cremators for purposes of air quality impacts. The same permitting pathways, pollutant standards, and public notice procedures apply.
In public records (example: Coffin Cremations, Delaware permit application), a Sierra-300 pet cremator was analyzed under the same emissions frameworks used for human crematories.
Engineering studies of cremation emissions consistently analyze animal crematories alongside human crematories, noting no material difference in combustion chemistry, thermal profiles, or particulate production per pound of organic material.
The EPA and NY DEC regulate the levels of emissions allowed – that’s not NO emissions, there is an assumed baseline of emissions that will be produced even while operating at perfect performance.
A conservative estimate of the potential daily emissions of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) while the incinerator is operating within DEC limits could be up to 16 lbs of PM 2.5 in a single day.
If there are issues, community experiences around the country have shown that it can take months or even years to stop a non-compliant crematorium operation.
Scientific Studies Supporting Cumulative PM2.5 Effects
Harvard Six Cities Study: Demonstrated a strong association between long-term PM2.5 exposure and increased mortality rates.
American Cancer Society Study: Confirmed that chronic exposure to fine particulate air pollution is linked to higher risks of cardiopulmonary and lung cancer mortality.
Environmental Science & Technology Study: Indicated that long-term exposure to PM2.5 mass and its essential compounds are strongly connected to increased mortality risk.
ScienceDirect Review on PM2.5 Health Effects: Highlighted that both short- and long-term exposure to PM2.5 may pose risks of multiple human diseases, even at very low concentrations.
PubMed Study on PM2.5 and Lung Cancer Risk: Explored the associations between cumulative PM2.5 exposure and the carcinogenesis of lung cancer, emphasizing the need for preventive strategies.
ScienceDirect Study on PM Exposure and Mortality: Provided evidence that both PM2.5 and PM10 are associated with increased mortality from all causes, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, and lung cancer.
Environmental Health Perspectives Study: Discussed the cumulative effects of ambient particulate matter pollution on deaths, finding that cumulative PM exposure over 14 days increases all-cause and cardiovascular deaths.
American Journal of Epidemiology Study: Found that long-term PM2.5 exposure is significantly related to increased mortality from respiratory disease, lung cancer, and cardiovascular disease.
Environmental Research Study on PM2.5 and Diabetes: A study conducted in India found that prolonged exposure to high levels of PM2.5 significantly raised the risk of type 2 diabetes, highlighting the broader metabolic impacts of air pollution.
The Guardian Report on Air Pollution Exposure: A 2025 report from the American Lung Association reveals that nearly 156 million Americans are exposed to unhealthy levels of air pollutants like PM2.5, with significant health risks including asthma, heart attacks, strokes, and lung cancer.