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Is americium 241 hazardous

Updated: 9/25/2022
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13y ago

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If used inappropriately or carelessly, Americum-241 can be hazardous. It is a radioactive material that decays by emission of an alpha particle. Alpha particles are only dangerous if they are emitted by atoms within your body, so Americium-241 is only hazardous if it gets into your body.

Americium-241 is used in ionization-type smoke detectors. In that use it is not hazardous unless the smoke detector is severely abused.

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13y ago
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Q: Is americium 241 hazardous
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