What Happens to Precious Metals in the Body During Cremation?

Cremation is the process of converting a body to ashes and minerals fragments through combustion. The furnace used to cremate a body reaches temperatures of 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit. Some people have metals in their bodies due to medical procedures like titanium hips and knees, stainless steel bone screws, and even gold teeth. More often than not, the person is cremated with the implants still in their body.

What Happens to Precious Metals During Cremation?

During cremation, the furnace temperature may not be hot enough to melt all the metals in the body. For example:

• Gold: 1,947 degrees Fahrenheit
• Titanium: 3,034 degrees Fahrenheit
• Steel: 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit

However, the gold used in tooth fillings is generally a dental gold alloy that doesn't survive the heat of a furnace. The gold fillings should be removed before cremation if they are to be preserved.

Other metals such as in jewelry or coffin handles will also melt at 1,763 degrees Fahrenheit. Combined with the ash, it becomes granular and unrecognizable. It's recommended to remove any valuable jewelry from the body before cremation.

The metals that withstand the cremation furnace heat are removed before the cremains are pulverized.

What Can Be Done With Precious Metals After Cremation?

Previously, it was common for crematorium staff to take the implants and remaining metals and store them until there was enough metal to bury them on the grounds of the crematorium. However, this has become less acceptable over the years. Environmentalists agree that burying the metals is not a good environmental practice.

Now, crematoriums opt to recycle the metals instead. They send the metals to a recycling company where it's sold, and the proceeds are donated to a charity or returned to the crematorium.

Conclusion

People should be aware that they can choose to opt-out of the recycling program and ask to have the metals returned to them with the ashes.