Cremation is the process of final disposition of the body in which the body is exposed to extreme heat, usually 1800 - 2000 degrees Fahrenheit for two hours or more. The body is reduced to its basic elements through this process, referred to as cremated remains. Cremation is carried out at a 'Crematorium' in a special furnace called a cremation chamber or retort. Bone fragments remain after this process and they are then mechanically processed to form ashes. After preparation, the fragments are placed in a temporary container that is suitable for transport. Depending upon the size of the body, there are nomally three to nine pounds of fragments resulting.

A complete cremation is a two-step process. Firstly, the deceased is exposed to several hours of intense heat and flame; after which the remains are mostly ash except for certain bone fragments, then the entire remaining ash and fragment volume is gathered and run through a processor, creating a uniform powder-like texture.

Cremation v/s Traditional Methods

Cremation is chosen by more than 70 per cent of the population in Britain. Yet just a few decades ago they would probably have chosen burial. Cremation was illegal in Britain before 1884. From then on, the concept was promoted by intellectuals of the day, surgeons, writers and artists. But as recently as 1940, a mere nine per cent of funerals ended in cremation.
The dramatic swing towards cremation has happened in less than two generations. After World War II, the Government and local authorities encouraged it as an efficient and convenient method of disposing of the dead and as a way to providing and maintaining cemeteries. The cremation movement's campaign slogan was 'Save the land for the living'.

Reasons for Preferring Cremation:

Religious Faith:
Today, all of the Christian denominations allow cremation. All other main religions are happy for their members to choose to be cremated. The Eastern religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism mandate the use of cremation.

Environmental Reasons:
Some people prefer cremation for environmental people as the concern is that during body decomposition, body fluid and embalmind chemicals could contaminate the earth. Infact, some locations have found that long-buried bodies are not causing groundwater contamination. Also, Arsenic, which was used as an embalmind chemical in the 19th and early 20th centuries - has been known to cause serious pollution later on.

Cost of Cremation:
Cremation is an attractive option for it costs less than a traditional burial service, especially so if direct cremation is chosen - in which the body is cremated as soon as legally possible without any sort of services. Cremation makes it possible to scatter the remains over an area, meaning the elimination of any expense concerning burial space.

Other Personal Reasons:
Some people prefer Cremation as they are not attracted to traditional burial or don't like the through of a long, slow decomposition process. It is also considered as a way of simplifying the funeral process

Cremation Growth Trends

Cremation is being chosen for one out of every four deaths occuring today.The most accurate and current figures on cremation rates are collected by the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) which covers the United States and Canada. These figures project that by the year 2010 the U.S. level of cremation will be two (2) out of every five (5) deaths, with urban areas higher than rural.

CANA reports the following major factors as influences leading to the increasing growth in cremation.
> Life Expectancy is Increasing
> Migration to Retirement Locations is Increasing
> Regional Differences are Diminishing
> Origins of Immigrants are Changing
> Educational Levels are Rising
> Cremation is Becoming More Acceptable as a Normal Form of Disposition
> Family Ties to Tradition are Lessening
> Environmental Considerations are Becoming More Important

Environmental Friendliness

Cremation is preferred for environmental reasons. While traditional methods can cause environmental pollution and long term harmful effects, cremation elimates all this by making the body matter one with earth once again.

Traditional burial can take a great deal of space since the body is buried in a casket made of many kinds of materials - causing another concern for the environment. In America the casket is often placed inside a concrete vault or liner before burial in the ground. While individually this may not take much room, combined with other burials it can over time cause serious space concerns.

In Europe and Japan, as well as those in larger cities many cemeteries are starting to run out of space. In Tokyo, for example, it is almost impossible to find a traditional funeral plot. One item of concern has been that the exhaust systems of cremation ovens may contribute to air pollution. In response crematorium manufacturers have built computerized control systems that regulate the exhaust systems to keep crematoriums from contributing to air pollution. Additionally some crematoria remove all plastic handles and fittings from a coffin before cremation and these are disposed of separately for the same reason.