cremation
During cremation, the body is reduced to bone fragments through direct exposure to intense heat and flame. These bone fragments are all that remains of the dead human body after cremation. The bone fragments are crushed to their final consistency which resembles a mix of fine powder and are called cremains. Almost 40,000 Minnesota residents die each year, about 109 per day. Almost 64% of them now choose cremation. The national figure is 50% and rising steadily. In some countries, the rate is much higher: Japan-98%, England-75%. In majority Muslim and Catholic countries, the percentage is very low. How green is cremation? Nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, heavy metals and particulates are released into the atmosphere when a body is cremated. If a body has mercury-amalgam tooth fillings, the mercury will almost certainly become air pollution unless the fillings are removed first, which is almost is never done. Burning a body inside a coffin also creates significantly more pollution than burning the body by itself or in a cardboard cremation container. Modern crematoriums often have "clean smokestacks" to reduce emissions and the cremation industry has claimed that reports of pollution have been greatly exaggerated. Direct Cremation Price Survey Urn FAQs Cremation alternative Green Cremation, or Alkaline Hydrolysis, is a new alternative to cremation. It too reduces the body to bone fragments, but by a very different process. See Alkaline Hydrolysis. Options before or after cremation If you choose cremation, there are a few more things to think about. Here are the most common options people choose before or after cremation:
FINAL DESTINATION OF CREMATED REMAINS: EIGHT OPTIONS Cremation is a method of preparing a dead human body for its final destination. After cremation, you’ll need to decide what to do with the ashes. Here are eight options:
Final final destination plan for cremated remains kept at home Does Mom want the kids to take turns caring for Dad's ashes after she's gone? After she dies, does she want her ashes mixed with Dad’s, and then divided equally among the kids? There's still the need for a final plan. Our culture doesn't have a tradition of passing bodily remains down the generations. And home-keeping cremated remains is only a temporary thing, even if "temporary" is several years or even decades. It's important to make a plan for the final final destination of your ashes. Mailing cremated remains The United States Postal Service (USPS) is the only shipper that allows the shipment of cremated remains. There are specific requirements for preparing, packaging, and shipping human (or animal) cremated remains. You must use Priority Mail Express, and clearly identify the contents. USPS even has a special Cremated Remains label (Label 139) available at your post office. An illustrated US Postal Service brochure, How to Package and Ship Cremated Remains, explains it all for you, including information on how to ship to an address outside the United States. Flying with cremated remains The Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) has special rules for transporting cremated remains in checked bags and as a carry-on item: Some airlines do not allow cremated remains in checked bags, so please check with your airline to learn more about possible restrictions. To facilitate screening, we suggest that you purchase a temporary or permanent crematory container made of a lighter weight material, such as wood or plastic. If the container is made of a material that generates an opaque image, TSA officers will not be able to clearly determine what is inside the container and the container will not be allowed. Out of respect for the deceased, TSA officers will not open a container, even if requested by the passenger. Airline cremated remains policies differ from carrier to carrier. Delta’s Cremated Remains policy is under “Fragile, Bulky & Other Items.” United’s Cremated Human Remains policy is under “High value, fragile & perishable items.” ALWAYS CHECK WITH YOUR AIRLINE BEFORE ATTEMPTING
TO FLY WITH CREMATED REMAINS. |
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