It is very important to think many times before making a decision to bury the COVID-19 dead bodies in scientific point of view. There are enough evidences to show that the burial may pose a danger via contamination through subsurface waters..

Some scientists confirmed that they found the coronavirus on the wastewater and some river in Paris. The question remain : do this virus can reach the groundwater and can it resist during the infiltration process, wich take several days and may be some months ; my response I don't think so !

I think about another thing : did the treated wastewater may contain coronavirus ? it is important to check because these treated can be reinjected directly in the aquifers

Leônidas Luiz Volcato Descovi Filho

If the corpses are not buried with care, it can happen that pathogens other than COVID 19 which are present there contribute to contaminate the aquifers by negatively impacting the quality of groundwater. Because before being contaminated with COVID 19, the individual could harbor other pathogens capable of causing disease. Under certain conditions, water serves not only as a vehicle for pathogens but also as an environment facilitating their proliferation.

Another question to ask is the ability of the virus to proliferate and adapt in water.

It is very important to think many times before making a decision to bury the COVID-19 dead bodies in scientific point of view. There are enough evidences to show that the burial may pose a danger via contamination through subsurface waters..

Research should be done more in that area to avoid future pandemic.

Yes it is having impact on soil and groundwater after decomposition.

In Nederland Some scientists reported containing the coronavirus on the wastewater. But it needs to be known The main question is it is ability to be alive after water treatment systems. my response I don't think so that it might be infected to human, if we dont eat any animal from this river

My question goes in this line touched by Misters Gaston Jean and Aravinda Ravibhanu Sumanarathna . The bodies in the subsoil will release contaminants, the burials are increasing exponexially with the pandemic... Very important that shared articles. These are jobs that can help shed light on our knowledge of this problem. I believe that an important solution to the problem would be the cremation of the deceased. However, this depends on several factors of technical, cultural and religious order.

An official in the French capital announced on Sunday that it was found that there were "minor effects" of the new Corona virus in the non-drinking waters of Paris, similar to those used to clean the streets, but it stressed

However, drinking water is not at risk of pollution. Non-drinking water drawn from the Seine and Urk canals is used to clean the streets, watering the lawn in the city's parks and gardens, which are currently closed to the public, and its fountains are also supplied with water.

An interesting study conducted in Nigeria suggested that toxic chemicals used in embalming and burial practices could release into groundwater. It is not surprising as beings like humans are nothing but a composition of chemicals including the COVID-19. Bodies if buried as is the practice in most culture would leak into the under groundwater contaminating it. Cremation is merited owing to the fact that it will not help occupy open spaces and would have no association with groundwater contamination.

On the issue of effect of death on groundwater, i am of the opinion that the flow of aquifer in each location differs and so, in some places some aquifer flows closely towards the subsurface (like spring area/oases etc) while in some other places it could be deep down into the ground level. So, did our cemetery location consider the groundwater flow/aquifer flow and depth when such location is to be chosen?

The second issue could be, maybe if the number of dead bodies buried in the place is not more, it may not have much impact on the groundwater of that particular area. Moreso, that most of the cemetery are usually located at the outskirt of the city. Some researches had suggested increase in Calcium level on wells located close to cemetery. However, for cemetery located within the city or urban areas, it will not be out of place to conduct a new research to proof this.

Lastly, apart from the death and the impact on groundwater, the treatment of medical wastes from the treated COVID 19 patients are usually shrouded in secrecy . This could also pose serious challenges to the groundwater depending on level of aquifer depths and flow.

Leonidas Luiz Volcato Descovi Filho@ You have picked up a very important topic for discussion. My compliments. The answer obviously lies in knowing the survival strength of the COVID-19 in different physical and chemical environments. Other than that, I am not capable of making comment.

A few days ago I saw a short video clip in which corpses were being collected on a beach. They were supposed to be of people killed by corona and dumped into the sea. The commentary advised to avoid sea food. I wonder how long will COVID-19 last in saline water.

I appreciate your participation in this discussion M. Qasim Jan ; Your question is liable to be researched for an adequate answer. I haven't read anything about it yet. We expect other smart people to contribute to clarifying this salt water issue.

Nidup Dorji@ Cremation is obviously the best way to dispose off the dead. It is healthier, and it does not occupy the rapidly shrinking land space because of population growth. However, some of the religions prefer/require burials.

It is interesting and good that in Hinduism cremation is the rule, whereas hand shakes and embraces are not social customs.

Well,

Coronavirus associated with deaths behaves the same as the rest of the viruses' behavior when leaches from landfills towards groundwater. see the attached figures.

Regards