[tricia (OP)]

concerning the latest in environmentally friendly funerals thought up by the swedish ecologist. Can anyone tell me whether his calculations have included the energy used to make the liquid nitrogen to freeze the body in the first place and whether this still makes it more environmentally friendly than either cremation or burial?
many thanks

[NakedScientist]

Their argument goes that freeze-drying a body prevents contamination of the ground in which it is buried and also saves space. Cremation contributes greenhouse gases to the air and also heavy metals (like mercury) that might be in fillings. Their figure of 10 gallons of diesel per body burned suggests that liquid nitrogen is probably cheaper - liquid nitrogen retails at about 10 pence a litre making it much cheaper than milk ! Oil costs closer to 80 pence a litre.

Liquid nitrogen is easy and cheap to make - you just compress air. On balance I suspect this is cheaper and better for the environment than burning. Not so sure about burying though...

Presumably when you scatter the 'ashes' of the freeze-dried individual, the organic material therein will rehydrate and be food for bacteria which will turn it into carbon dioxide and methane. Plus any heavy metals will go back into the soil. Therefore I can't see much difference between freeze drying and burying.

Here's the link to the show in which we covered this story :

http://www.thenakedscientists.com/html/shows/2001.10.07.htm

[Donnah]

Cool!  Pun intended.

I'm donating my body so that all recyclable parts are recycled and what's left can be used for science.  Anyone else going to be an organ donor?

[roberth]

I'm planning on using all my bits up, so there is nothing left to recycle. Just the carbon after I've been flash fried or freeze dried, whatever is in vogue at the time.

[neilep]

I would also like to donate my body, so if any nice ladies would like a test drive  before I die then please let me know

'Men are the same as women...just inside out !'

[Donnah]

Neil, shall we call and book a time with your wife then (or maybe that's for the gentlemen)?  ;>)

[neilep]

Donna...shhhhhhhhh !!!!  keep it quiet...I can fit you in between 7pm and 9pm next Wednesday [:X]

'Men are the same as women...just inside out !'

[Exodus]

quote:Originally posted by neilep@dsl.pipex.com

Donna...shhhhhhhhh !!!!  keep it quiet...I can fit you in between 7pm and 9pm next Wednesday [:X]

'Men are the same as women...just inside out !'

The way i see it, freeze drying humans is creating space food for worms! We'll be seeing them in orbit next! []

Resident Tour Operator - The Naked Scientists

[tweener]

I'm hoping to donate everything that is still useable.  But after that I figure that burying is basically recycling as it just returns the organic material back to the soil.

----
John - The Eternal Pessimist.