比利時殯葬業人士最近提出一項尸體處理的新舉措，建議將尸體放在腐蝕性溶液中溶解，然后將其沖入污水處理系統，再經凈水廠處理后可回收利用。他們認為這樣的處理方式跟火化或墓葬比起來既省錢又環保。這一建議一經提出便引起廣泛爭議，有反對人士指出這種做法對逝者太過冷漠，也會讓人們覺得不安。目前，歐盟正在對此項建議進行研究，檢驗尸體溶解后的液體被排入污水系統是否安全，一旦獲得批準，將會在歐洲范圍內推廣使用。美國的緬因、科羅拉多、佛羅里達、明尼蘇達、俄勒岡以及馬里蘭等六個州已于近期通過立法準許尸體溶解方案運行。專家表示，雖然尸體溶解后的液體會被排入污水處理系統，但溶解后的殘留物還是可以裝入骨灰盒交給逝者家屬保管的。

The new method is said to be less expensive and more environmentally friendly than using up valuable land for graves.

Belgian undertakers have drawn up plans to dissolve the corpses of the dead in caustic solutions and flush them into the sewage system.

The controversial new method is said to be less expensive and more environmentally friendly than running highly polluting crematoria or using up valuable land for graves.

The departed would go into the sewage systems of towns and cities and then be recycled in water processing plants.

The proposals are being studied by the EU and if approved, it would mean the procedure could be used across Europe.

However, opponents of the plans say it smacks of a Frankenstein callousness towards the dead and one survey in Belgium found many people found the idea "disturbing."

"The idea is for the deceased to be placed in a container with water and salts and then pressurised and after a little time, about two hours, mineral ash and liquid is left over," said a spokesman for the Flemish Association of Undertakers.

The European Commission is investigating whether the resulting liquid could safely be flushed into the sewage system. Authorities in the northern Belgian region have yet to decide whether to approve the process.

Six states in America – Maine, Colorado, Florida, Minnesota, Oregon, and Maryland have recently passed legislation that allow the process to be used.

Although experts insist that the ashes can be recycled in waste systems, the residue from the process can also be put in urns and handed over to relatives of the dead.

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(Agencies)

（中國日報網英語點津 Helen 編輯）