Dead Bodies: Aquatic Polluters?

The presence of dead bodies after a disaster is distressing for affected communities, and the fear that they pose a health threat can lead to hasty and uncoordinated disposal, which can cause long-lasting mental distress for family members, as well as social and legal problems. However, it is important to note that the bodies themselves do not cause epidemics or spread disease. The only time dead bodies pose a health risk of epidemics is when deaths occur from certain infectious diseases or when the disaster takes place in an area where such a disease is endemic. While dead bodies do not cause epidemics, they can potentially contaminate water sources.

Dead bodies can leak faeces, contaminating water sources with diarrhoeal diseases

Dead bodies do not cause epidemics following natural disasters. This is a common misconception. Epidemics are not caused by the bodies of those who have died in a disaster because they do not spread disease. In most cases, it is the survivors who are more likely to be spreading diseases. Dead bodies are therefore a negligible health hazard.

However, dead bodies can contaminate water sources. They often leak faeces, which may contaminate rivers or other water sources with diarrhoeal diseases. This can cause a risk of diarrhoeal illness, which can be prevented with adequate water treatment. Routine disinfection of drinking water is sufficient to prevent waterborne illness.

Gastrointestinal (GI) infections can be transmitted from faeces leaked from dead bodies. Transmission occurs via the faecal-oral route through direct contact with the body, soiled clothes, or contaminated vehicles or equipment. GI infections can also be spread as a result of contamination of the water supply with dead bodies.

Therefore, it is important to ensure the adequate disposal of bodies and to take appropriate precautions when handling them. For example, it is recommended to use gloves only once and dispose of them correctly, and to wash hands with soap after handling bodies and before eating. It is also important to disinfect vehicles and equipment.

The decomposition process generates a toxic liquid known as cemetery leachate, which can contaminate the surrounding environment

Decomposing bodies can indeed contaminate water sources. While the corpses themselves are not a significant health risk, they often leak faeces, which can contaminate water sources with diarrhoeal diseases.

The decomposition process also generates a toxic liquid known as cemetery leachate, which can contaminate the surrounding environment. This liquid is rich in mineral salts and organic substances called biogenic amines, such as cadaverine and putrescine. These substances are highly toxic to living beings and have also been associated with diseases such as cancer.

Cemetery leachate is released during the cadaveric putrefaction process. It percolates into the soil and transmits contaminants from the body's decomposition, including chemical compounds such as medicines, substances used in body preservation and preparation, and compounds derived from additional items such as pacemakers, personal jewellery, paints, varnishes, and metallic elements from mortuary urns.

The leachate can then reach and contaminate the soil and surface and underground water resources near the cemetery. This problem is further exacerbated when the surrounding population uses water resources that are under the influence of cemeteries, as they are predisposed to waterborne diseases.

The impact of cemetery leachate on the environment is particularly evident in the case of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has resulted in a high number of burials and, consequently, increased cemetery leachate contamination. This has raised concerns about the potential impact on the surrounding urban environment and the health risks posed to nearby residents.

To reduce the risk of groundwater contamination, many countries have strict guidelines for the burial of bodies, including minimum distances from water sources and the water table. Proper hazardous waste disposal and landfill protection measures, such as specialised draining systems and liners, are crucial to prevent leachate from contaminating groundwater.

Contamination of water supplies by unburied bodies can result in the spread of gastroenteritis

While it is widely believed that dead bodies can cause epidemics, this is not the case. The bodies of victims of natural disasters or armed conflicts do not spread disease and are only a negligible health hazard. However, there are some risks associated with unburied bodies, particularly the contamination of water supplies, which can lead to the spread of gastroenteritis.

Gastroenteritis is a communicable disease with a sudden onset, characterised by fever, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and headaches. It is predominantly self-limiting with very low mortality in developed areas of the world. However, in developing regions, it can cause significant mortality, mainly due to dehydration and the lack of rehydration therapy.

The contamination of water supplies by unburied bodies can occur when faecal matter leaks from the bodies and mixes with water sources. This faecal-oral transmission route can result in the spread of gastrointestinal infections, such as gastroenteritis. While communities typically avoid drinking water from sources they believe to be contaminated by dead bodies, it is still essential to ensure proper disposal of bodies and adequate sanitation practices.

To prevent the spread of gastroenteritis and other waterborne illnesses, it is crucial to provide communities with the necessary tools and information for the safe and dignified management of dead bodies. This includes proper identification, respectful burial or cremation practices, and the establishment of designated body collection areas. Additionally, routine disinfection of drinking water can effectively prevent waterborne diseases, including gastroenteritis.

Overall, while unburied bodies may not pose a significant risk of epidemics, the potential for water supply contamination and the resulting spread of gastroenteritis underscores the importance of proper cadaver management and sanitation measures.

Workers who handle corpses are at risk of contracting tuberculosis, bloodborne viruses, and gastrointestinal infections

While dead bodies do not cause epidemics following natural disasters, workers who handle corpses are at risk of contracting certain infections and diseases. These include tuberculosis, bloodborne viruses, and gastrointestinal infections.

Tuberculosis

Workers can contract tuberculosis if the bacillus is aerosolized. This can happen when residual air in the lungs is exhaled, or when fluid from the lungs is spurted through the nose or mouth during the handling of the corpse.

Bloodborne Viruses

Bloodborne viruses such as hepatitis B and C, and HIV can be transmitted to workers through direct contact with non-intact skin or mucous membranes. This can occur via splashing of blood or body fluids, or from injuries caused by bone fragments and needles.

Gastrointestinal Infections

Gastrointestinal infections, such as cholera, E. coli, hepatitis A, rotavirus diarrhoea, salmonellosis, shigellosis, and typhoid/paratyphoid fevers, can be easily transmitted from faeces leaked from dead bodies. Transmission occurs via the faecal-oral route through direct contact with the body, soiled clothes, or contaminated vehicles or equipment. These infections can also spread through the contamination of water supplies by dead bodies.

To minimize these risks, workers should follow specific precautions, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), proper waste disposal, regular handwashing, and disinfection of vehicles and equipment. Additionally, vaccination against hepatitis B is recommended for individuals who handle corpses.

Burying bodies in mass graves can be detrimental to communities, causing long-lasting mental distress and social and legal problems

The presence of dead bodies after a natural disaster or conflict is distressing for affected communities. The urge to quickly bury bodies in mass graves stems from the fear that they pose a health threat and as an attempt to manage distress. However, this approach can be detrimental, as it can cause long-lasting mental distress for family members and communities, as well as social and legal issues.

The consequences of mismanagement of the dead can be severe. Well-managed burials include easily traceable and properly documented individual graves in demarcated burial sites. This ensures that the exact location of each body, along with associated information and personal belongings, is known. Rushing to dispose of bodies without proper identification can traumatise families and communities and may have serious legal repercussions. It can become impossible to recover and identify individual remains later, hindering forensic investigations and denying families the opportunity to identify and mourn their loved ones.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and the World Health Organization (WHO) emphasise the importance of dignified management of bodies. They provide guidance, materials, and training to local authorities to support them in managing the challenging task of burying the dead. According to Dr Kazunobu Kojima, a Medical Officer at WHO, dignified management of bodies is crucial for families and communities and can contribute to a swifter end to conflict.

While dead bodies themselves do not cause epidemics, they can potentially contaminate water sources if left in contact with them. Leaked faeces from corpses can lead to the spread of diarrhoeal diseases and other illnesses. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that bodies are not left in contact with drinking water sources.

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