All List of Chemicals Used in Embalming – Substances and How It Works

Embalming is an artistically scientific act of preserving human or animal remains. Chemicals have various purposes in life. It can be used for cleaning agents, pesticides or herbicides, chemicals in food, and also preservation. Chemicals preservation is common in list of food preservation or human and animals preservation.

Preserve human or animal for use chemicals to forestall decomposition. The chemicals process it is called embalming. The three goals of embalming include sanitization, presentation, and preservation. Moreover, it highlights the restoration as an important additional factor in some cases. The intention is usually to make the remains suitable for public or private viewing or keep them preserved for medical purpose.

Chemicals in Embalming

Successful embalming preserves the body for a duration of many years which has a very long and cross-cultural history, with many has root to religious meaning.  This process enables human body intact or to maintain the creature’s skin on an anatomical form in animals.

It contains mixtures of a variety of preservatives, sanitizers, and disinfectant agents. Moreover, the additives act to delay decomposition and restore a natural appearance for viewing a body after death. This chemicals combination or embalming fluid serves as embalming which contains several chemicals.

1. Formaldehyde

This is the list of chemicals used in embalming, this chemical substance is a natural organic compound as an important precursor to many other materials and chemical compounds. In view of its widespread use, toxicity, and volatility, formaldehyde poses a significant threat to human health. Moreover, many countries consider formaldehyde as a human carcinogen.

In embalming, there is at least 5 to 35 percent of this chemicals. Environmentalists generally disapprove of embalming due to harmful chemicals involved and their interactions with the environment. By omitting Formaldehyde in the mixture, it makes the process more eco-friendly. Formaldehyde works to stiffen the tissue to achieve mortician to pose the body. Therefore, this substance is very hazardous when encountered in the environment. The embalming process makes carbon atom in formaldehyde which carries a slight positive charge due to the high electronegativity of the oxygen,

When it is released from the cremation of embalmed cadavers, it enters the atmosphere and remains suspended for up to 250 hours. However, it is readily soluble in water so it will bond with the atmosphere and rain down onto plants, animals, and water supplies below.

In additions, after an embalmed body than decays, the embalming fluid can affect the surrounding soil and water ecosystems. Since embalming fluid largely consists of formaldehyde, it is this substance that has the most dramatic effect on its surroundings. This chemical is so dangerous that it made it, into the list of chemicals banned in Germany.

2. Glutaraldehyde

This substance fixes skin tissue or cells by irreversibly connects a primary amine group in a protein molecule with nearby nitrogen in a protein or DNA molecule through a -CH₂– linkage. Glutaraldehyde sold as medication or disinfectant with the brand name Glutaral.  As a disinfectant agent, it serves to sterilize surgical instruments and other areas.

The side effects of this compound include skin irritation, nausea, headache, and shortness of breath may occur. Protective equipment is very crucial when using this chemical. Therefore, Individuals working with chemical need to understand the hazard and use suitable safety. Glutaraldehyde is effective against a range of microorganisms including spores and other parts. 

3. Methanol

Methanol holds the formaldehyde in solution to undergo embalming process. This substance is also can be found in the list of chemicals in gasoline. Moreover, It acquired the name wood alcohol because it was once produced chiefly by the destructive distillation of wood.

Methanol is a light, volatile, colorless, flammable liquid with a distinctive odor similar. Methanol is however far more toxic than ethanol. This chemical enter to dehydrated and emaciated bodies to help restore tissue to get a more natural and hydrated appearance.

5. Phenol

Phenol is an aromatic organic compound with a white crystalline solid feature. Moreover, it is mildly acidic and requires careful handling due to its propensity to cause chemical burns. Before using this chemicals release you need to check out your skin conditions first. It is an important industrial commodity that is very useful to many materials and compounds. It is primarily used of this substances to synthesize plastics and related materials.

Phenol is essential for the production of polycarbonates, epoxies, Bakelite, nylon, detergents, herbicides such as phenoxy herbicides, and numerous pharmaceutical drugs. It is also a key ingredient in a balming process that the process itself maybe faster that gathering ingredients. 

6. Polycarbonates

Polycarbonates used in engineering are strong, tough materials, and some have great grades. They are very easy to work, mold, and thermoform especially for balming. Because of these properties, polycarbonates find many applications to use this chemical in daily life. Polycarbonate is mainly used for electronic applications that capitalize on its collective features.

It has a good electrical insulator and having heat-resistant and flame-retardant properties. Therefore, it comes handy in various products associated with electrical and telecommunications hardware. That’s the the list of chemicals used in embalming.

7. Humectant

This hygroscopic substance element in embalming method is responsible to keep things moist.  It is often meet molecules of water is the crucial trait. They are an important element in various products, including food, cosmetics, medicines, and pesticides. A humectant attracts and retains the moisture in the air nearby by absorption, drawing the water vapor into or beneath the organism’s or object’s surface.

In pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and embalming, humectants in topical dosage forms can increase the solubility of a chemical compound’s active ingredients. In addition, it increases the active ingredients ability to penetrate the skin or its activity time. This process maintains the skin color in the embalming process.

There are chemicals involve in embalming process. It preserve the body nad try to make things as natural as possible. The growing awareness of the negative effects of embalming fluid on the environment has caused some people to consider green burials where there are no harsh chemicals in the embalming process. As a result of this trends, embalming chemical manufacturers now offer less effective “Green” Chemicals, as an option.