Re: Safety of Am-241 Smoke Detectors

[Jeff Pettigrew <jpettigrew@halnet.com>]

Actually you can still buy the 'radioactive' ones in the U.S.
Offbrand (non-Coleman) "lantern mantles" aka Welsbach mantles continue to
contain Thorium.  I have recently bought several from my local Walmart
store.  Read the back of the plastic package for the precautionary handling
instructions if in doubt on whether the one you may purchase is radioactive.

Jeff Pettigrew
jpettigrew@halnet.com



At 03:04 PM 9/4/96 -0500, you wrote:
>
>Michael:
>
>For your information the new "lantern mantles" are not "radioactive" anymore
>, and it does not last as long as the old ones, of course.
>
>At 04:12 PM 9/3/96 -0500, you wrote:
>>At 14:53 03.09.1996 -0500, you wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>     In a effort to educate the public (especially students) about radiation
>>>     science it is useful to point out common, non-threatening consumer
>>>     products like lantern mantles and smoke detectors.
>>>
>>>     Can anyone provide references of safety evaluations of these products?
>>>
>>>     Specifically, this information is needed for obtaining an exemption or
>>>     possibly a license for the use of Am-241 smoke detector sources in the
>>>     class room.
>>>
>>>     Thanks for your help...mjr
>>>
>>>
>>>=========================================================================
=====
>>>     _/_/      _/_/       _/     _/    _/_/    _/_/    Michael J.
Russell, CHP
>>>   _/   _/   _/   _/     _/     _/  _/    _/ _/   _/   SONGS, D3D
>>>    _/     _/      _/   _/_/   _/  _/         _/       PO Box 128
>>>     _/   _/       _/  _/ _/  _/  _/           _/      San Clemente, CA 92672
>>>      _/  _/      _/  _/  _/ _/  _/  _/_/        _/    (714) 368-9127
>>>_/    _/  _/     _/  _/   _/_/  _/      _/  _/   _/    fax (714) 368-7575
>>> _/_/       _/_/    _/     _/    _/_/_/      _/_/      russelmj@songs.sce.com
>>>=========================================================================
=====
>>>
>>>
>>>Michael,
>>
>>There have been discussions about radioactive material in consumer products
>>on radsafe some time ago. I remember that it was mentioned that for lantern
>>mantels nowadays also nonradioactive material (yttriumoxide) is used instead
>>of thoriumoxide.
>>
>>For the question of americium smoke detectors I would believe that there are
>>clear regulations in the USA.
>>
>>Franz
>>Schoenhofer
>>Habichergasse 31/7
>>A-1160 WIEN
>>AUSTRIA/EUROPE
>>Tel./Fax:	+43-1-4955308
>>Tel.:		+43-664-3380333
>>e-mail:		schoenho@via.at
>>
>>
>Mr. Rahim Ghanooni
>Sr. Health Physicist
>Certified Hazardous Material Manager (CHMM)
>319-851-7133
>rahim@inav.net
>
>My opinion only. 
>
>
>     
>
>
>
>

**********************************************************************
Jeffrey S Pettigrew                    Voice: 713.496.8319         
Radiation Safety Officer                 Fax: 713.496.8394
Halliburton Energy Services
PO Box 42800                
Houston, TX 77242-8042                   jpettigrew@halnet.com       
                                               or
                              esg.jeffpet@memo.halliburton.com 
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