{
  "id": 7762298,
  "title": "A real mummy’s curse? The health risks associated with the trade of human remains",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/a-real-mummys-curse-the-health-risks-associated-with-the-trade-of",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-16T09:55:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Egypt Independent",
    "slug": "egypt-independent",
    "url": "https://www.egyptindependent.com/a-real-mummys-curse-the-health-risks-associated-with-the-trade-of-human-remains/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A recent study published in the International Journal of Cultural Property suggests there may indeed be a basis for the \"mummy's curse.\" Researchers from Cambridge University Press analyzed 128 advertisements and posts selling human remains across social media, e-commerce sites, online stores, and auction houses. Their findings revealed disturbing health risks associated with the trade of mummified human remains.\n\nThe researchers noted that many of the remains being offered for sale showed clear signs of deterioration yet lacked proper warnings or guidelines for handling them safely. Hands and feet were the most commonly sold body parts, followed closely by heads. In fact, heads and skulls with soft tissue or hair accounted for about 51.6% of the sample studied.\n\nThis trade is particularly dangerous due to the ancient mummification processes used. Chemicals and heavy metals like arsenic, mercury, and lead were sometimes employed to preserve human tissues. Handling these remains without proper protective measures can result in exposure to these toxic substances.\n\nFurthermore, mummified remains can harbor dormant microorganisms like fungal spores even centuries after the tissue has dried out. When disturbed or touched, these spores can become airborne, posing a risk of inhalation and potential health issues. The study cites a 1970s incident where 10 out of 12 conservationists who opened the tomb of King Casimir IV in Kraków, Poland, died from inhaling Aspergillus fungal spores.\n\nThe study also draws a link between the 1923 death of Lord Carnarvon, a key financier of the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb, and the Aspergillus fungus. This death became one of the stories fueling the legend of the \"mummy's curse,\" which holds that opening ancient tombs can lead to illness or death.\n\nHowever, researchers emphasize that these dangers are rooted in biological and chemical hazards that can be scientifically explained. Some sellers of mummified remains seem unaware of the risks involved, as images posted online show severely deteriorated remains kept in open areas within homes without protective cases or proper storage conditions.\n\nThe trade extends beyond just buyers and sellers, as transportation via postal and shipping services exposes warehouse workers, drivers, logistics personnel, and customs officials to potential risks. These individuals may handle shipments without knowing their contents or wearing appropriate protective gear.\n\nUltimately, the study highlights that the fascination with mummies and ancient human remains has transformed into a trade fraught with genuine risks. Stricter regulations are needed to protect not only collectors but also anyone who may handle or transport these materials without being aware of their nature.",
  "summary": "“The mummy’s curse” might have some basis in reality after all, after a recent academic study warned of genuine health risks associated with the murky trade in mummified human remains—a practice increasingly spreading across social media, e-commerce platforms, and auction houses. The study, titled “The real mummy’s curse: Health risks associated with the sale and … The post A real mummy’s curse?…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}