[ RadSafe ] Disposal/Recycle Options for Smoke Detectors

[Michael LaFontaine, P. Phys.]

Good point Chris - I was using my side number pad, must have hit the 
decimal located below the "3."

Regards,

Mike

At 07:26 PM 22/09/2011, you wrote:
>Michael
>
>Actually, you need to move the decimal point over a couple of 
>places: the t1/2 of Am-241 is ~ 430 y.  Otherwise, it sounds like 
>good advice to me.
>
>Cheers
>cja
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Michael LaFontaine, P. Phys. <physics at execulink.com>
>To: The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing 
>List <radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu>
>Sent: Thu, Sep 22, 2011 5:50 pm
>Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Disposal/Recycle Options for Smoke Detectors
>
>
>Shane, your first point of contact should be your local (municipal
>and state) authorities. Some municipalities have established
>recycling depots for smoke detectors. Provide the date of manufacture
>re. the Am-241 model (t 1/2 = 4.33 years, so disposal may be fairly
>straight forward and inexpensive). Ra-226 should NOT be directed to
>any municipal waste site.
>
>Regards,
>
>Michael LaFontaine
>
>At 02:35 PM 22/09/2011, you wrote:
> >Greetings,
> >
> >We have a client requesting disposal options for two smoke detectors.
> >They took it upon themselves to look into options and received
> >something of a
> >sticker shock; consequently, I was approached to assist.  See their
> >description below.
> >
> >"We have 2 ionization smoke detectors that we need to get rid of.  Their
> >descriptions are as follows:
> >
> >-  A 6" (case diameter) unit made  by Ademco, model: 590, serial #E100475.
> >Radioactive Material = Ra 226 (.05  microCuries).
> >
> >-  An 8" unit made by Pyrotronics  Canada Ltd, model #DU-3. Radioactive
> >Material = AM 241 (0.8 microCuries  max)."
> >
> >
> >My understanding was that such units were distributed, under proper NRC
> >exempt distribution licensing, to persons/entities exempt from licensing;
> >therefore, they can be disposed as municipal waste.  I fact, I recall
> >regulatory guidance (NUREG 1717?) that evaluated the entire life
> >cycle of such
> >products from a dose standpoint.
> >
> >Can someone direct me to either the applicable regulations and/or guidance
> >that supports my understanding, or, in the case of my  misunderstanding, to
> >viable disposal or recycling options that do  not require the liquidation
> >assets?
> >
> >
> >Thanks in advance,
> >
> >Shane  Brightwell, MS, CHP
> >President
> >Professional Radiation Consulting,  Inc.
> >7 Balmoral Drive
> >Pittstown, NJ 08867
> >Office: (908)  730-9224
> >Fax: (720) 294-1153
> >Mobile: (631) 278-0610
> >E-mail:  proradcon at aol.com
> >
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>Michael LaFontaine, P. Phys.
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Michael LaFontaine, P. Phys.