When cemeteries do not follow the implementation and operation rules established, they can be sources of potential environmental impacts, causing damage to public health and the environment. In the process of decay the corpses are generated cadaverous, gaseous and liquid effluents, which can cause potential impacts on the soil, surface and underground water. The effluent produced from the decomposition of bodies is leachate, which has a high pathogen load, mineral salts and degradable organic substances. The possible negative environmental impacts generated by the cemetery were analyzed in this work. The investigation was carried out in cemetery, which is located in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. The methodology used for data collection and analysis were on-site visits, questionnaire, photographic recordings, and Leopold matrix. In the cemetery activity impacts of contamination and pollution will always exist, but these impacts can be reduced by following the rules of implementation and management for cemeteries.