Analysis of environmental impacts of burial sites

Abstract

Foot and mouth disease and avian influenza are highly contagious. The foot and mouth disease virus can be transmitted in a number of ways, including close-contact animal-to-animal spread, long-distance aerosol spread, and fomites (inanimate objects, typically fodder and motor vehicles). Many burial sites were constructed in a short time to prevent the rapid spread of the Foot and mouth disease and avian influenza. These carcass burial sites pose a risk of secondary pollution because the sites were constructed without any appropriate or systematic management due to lack of time, equipment, and available labors. In 2011, more than 4700 carcass burial sites were constructed. Approximately 7 million poultry and 3.5 million livestock, including cattle and swine, were buried in farmland. Secondary pollution from these burial sites is a cause of concern. In practice, a number of burial sites were excavated, and the carcasses were reburied or disposed of elsewhere. To minimize risks to the environment and human health, the environmental impacts of the construction methods should be analyzed. This study used life cycle assessment methodology to investigate environmental impacts of the traditional carcass burial construction method and the redisposal construction using aerobic thermophilic microbes. All input data of raw materials and energy usage were collected, and an inventory was established. The burial process contributed to freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity potential, ozone depletion potential, and terrestrial ecotoxicity potential more than the redisposal process. However, the redisposal contributed to abiotic depletion potential, acidification potential, eutrophication potential, global warming potential, human toxicity potential, and photochemical oxidant creation potential more than the burial process.