BMS Cremation and Alternative Disposition 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the correct mortuary science term for placing cremated remains into an urn?
- Interment
- Inurnment (Correct answer)
- Encasement
- Committal
Correct answer: Inurnment
"Inurnment" is the proper term for placing cremated remains into an urn, analogous to "interment" for burial of a casket in the ground.
Question 2: Natural (green) burial is primarily characterized by which practice?
- Cremation with scattering in a designated nature preserve
- Burial without embalming using biodegradable containers or shrouds (Correct answer)
- Aquamation followed by composting of the effluent
- Freeze-drying the body before ground burial
Correct answer: Burial without embalming using biodegradable containers or shrouds
Green burial emphasizes environmental sustainability by forgoing chemical embalming and using biodegradable caskets, shrouds, or no container to allow natural decomposition.
Question 3: Washington State made history in 2019 by becoming the first U.S. state to legalize which alternative disposition method?
- Alkaline hydrolysis
- Space burial
- Natural organic reduction (human composting) (Correct answer)
- Promession
Correct answer: Natural organic reduction (human composting)
Washington was the first U.S. state to legalize natural organic reduction (NOR), also called human composting, signing the law in May 2019.
Question 4: Which document is typically required to authorize cremation in most U.S. states?
- A signed death certificate alone
- A cremation authorization form signed by the legally authorized next-of-kin (Correct answer)
- A written order from the attending physician
- A court order from a probate judge
Correct answer: A cremation authorization form signed by the legally authorized next-of-kin
Most states require a signed cremation authorization form from the legally authorized next-of-kin or designated agent before the irreversible cremation process may proceed.
Question 5: What device is used to process remaining cremated bone fragments into a uniform, finer consistency after the retort cycle?
- Retort processor
- Cremulator (Correct answer)
- Bone pulverizer
- Fragment mill
Correct answer: Cremulator
A cremulator is the device used to reduce remaining bone fragments into the fine, powder-like consistency of cremated remains that families receive.
Question 6: When scattering cremated remains at sea, EPA regulations under the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act require remains to be placed at least how far from shore?
- 1 nautical mile
- 3 nautical miles (Correct answer)
- 12 nautical miles
- No minimum distance is required
Correct answer: 3 nautical miles
EPA regulations require cremated remains scattered at sea to be placed at least 3 nautical miles from shore, and the family must report the scattering within 30 days.
Question 7: Space burial services such as those provided by Celestis typically involve which of the following?
- Launching the full volume of cremated remains into permanent orbit
- Launching a small, symbolic portion of cremated remains into space (Correct answer)
- Placing the intact body in a pressurized capsule for indefinite storage
- Scattering remains from a high-altitude weather balloon at the edge of space
Correct answer: Launching a small, symbolic portion of cremated remains into space
Due to launch cost and payload weight constraints, space burial services launch only a small, symbolic portion of cremated remains rather than the full amount.
BMS Cremation and Alternative Disposition 2
What is the correct mortuary science term for placing cremated remains into an urn?