Animal carcass burial management: implications for sustainable biochar use

Applied Biological Chemistry

Table 2 Contaminants derived from different carcass and corpse disposal technologies

Disposal method	Major contaminants	Reference
Carcass disposal technologies
Burial	BOD Ammonia–nitrogen TDS Chloride Alkalinity Sulfate COD Steroid hormones Antibiotics	[13, 32, 46, 156, 157]
Open burning and incineration	Dioxin Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons Smoke/ash Heavy metals (Cd, Pb)	[65, 68, 69, 158]
Anaerobic digestion	Pathogens Greenhouse gases	[78]
Alkaline hydrolysis	Alkaline effluents	[79]
Composting	Ammonia–nitrogen TOC	[93]
Corpse disposal technologies
Burial	Methane Hydrogen sulfide Ammonia Phosphine Volatile amines (putrescine and cadaverine) Mercaptans Heavy metals	[29, 31, 49, 51, 56, 58]
Cremation	Particulate matter Sulfur dioxide Oxides of nitrogen Carbon monoxide Hydrochloric acid Hydrofluoric acid Ammonia VOCs Heavy metals Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins Dibenzofurans	[71, 72, 159]