Do you work in the death care industry? If so, you already know how much customers despise funeral home odors. They are often strong enough to send grieving families out the door in search of another facility to care for their loved one. What you may not realize is just how dangerous those odors can be to you and the mourners.
Take formaldehyde as an example. It is one of the most harmful and offensive funeral home odors there is. Studies dating as far back as the 1980s have shown that itsfumes can cause funeral home staff to develop brain tumors and variety of different cancers. There have even been lawsuits filed on behalf of funeral home employees that have gotten cancer after being exposed to the chemical over time.
One of the more recent lawsuits took place in New Jersey during the fall of 2012. In that case, a mortician allegedly developed leukemia from working with the chemical. He later sued the funeral home for not taking the necessary precautions to remove the chemical odors from the facility. At this time, results of that lawsuit are not known.
Of course formaldehyde is not the only toxic substance known to contribute to funeral home odors. There is also the matter of putrescine and cadaverine. Although they are naturally occurring substances, both have been known to cause people to develop health problems as well. The list of health problems that may occur from inhaling those two particular funeral home odors includes mucous membrane burns, emphysema and a form of pneumoconiosis.
On a positive note, with the right supplies, funeral home odors may be eliminated. One product that may make your funeral home odor free is an ozone generator. To learn more about it, please contact us toll-free at (866) 676-9663. We are members of the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association and have Better Business Bureau accreditation.