Death and Afterlife

[Aggie]

But.  Are the levels dangerous to eat?

Humans have been exposed to metals in their diet since they've been humans.  Indeed, if we lack certain metals in trace amounts, we die.

Small amounts of just about any metal is harmless-- depending on what you mean by "small" and which metal.

In the case of the 'organic' pear juice for toddlers that Loblaws recently recalled, I mean 58 to 107 parts per billion and arsenic.  That's apparently slightly under/over food criteria for adults (I haven't verified the criteria personally).  Sure, many metals are necessary trace elements, but arsenic, lead, mercury and cadmium are ALWAYS bad in any amount.  Metallic insecticides were quite common in the past and persist in soil.

[Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith]

But.  Are the levels dangerous to eat?

Humans have been exposed to metals in their diet since they've been humans.  Indeed, if we lack certain metals in trace amounts, we die.

Small amounts of just about any metal is harmless-- depending on what you mean by "small" and which metal.

In the case of the 'organic' pear juice for toddlers that Loblaws recently recalled, I mean 58 to 107 parts per billion and arsenic.  That's apparently slightly under/over food criteria for adults (I haven't verified the criteria personally).  Sure, many metals are necessary trace elements, but arsenic, lead, mercury and cadmium are ALWAYS bad in any amount.  Metallic insecticides were quite common in the past and persist in soil.

Lovely.

[beagle]

We seem to have concluded that our after-lives are going to contain a lot of heavy metal, thus confirming Bill and Ted's album covers.

[Swatopluk]

Let me be buried in chain mail (not to be confused with chain letters)!

[Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith]

Let me be buried in chain mail (not to be confused with chain letters)!

Iron, steel or aluminum rings? (the latter often being called "fairy mail")

Or, perhaps something more exotic.... depleted uranium, perhaps?  The radiation would likely preserve your corpse for a very long time, or else mutate the bacteria within into something Interesting.

[Sibling Zono (anon1mat0)]

Nah! Too heavy. Titanium alloy. Helmet, breastplate and shield made of carbon fiber and/or Kevlar.

[Swatopluk]

I won't mind the weight posthumously. And don't forget my trusty battleaxe (the item not the person*)
What about the air burial (once traditional in Persia), provided there are enough carrion animals to feed?

*not in possession of that yet

[Griffin NoName]

Rewrite dust to dust

...metal to metal....

the true reason for the Bronze Age and the Iron Age.

[Swatopluk]

Space burial is also all the rage for those that can afford it. Also there is that service of pressing the ash into diamonds (I kid you not)

[Sibling Chatty]

http://www.lifegem.com/

Pets, even...

[Griffin NoName]

http://www.lifegem.com/

I've added this website to my Favourites under the category of "Disability - Travel" 

[Sibling Chatty]

If I was wealthy, I'd come back a a blue diamond.

Or maybe a pair of diamond cufflinks!

[beagle]

What about the air burial (once traditional in Persia), provided there are enough carrion animals to feed?

I think The Zoroastrians still do it, though apparently there is a vulture shortage.

[Swatopluk]

They could import some businessmen (Pleitegeier)