SMOKE DETECTORS
Smoke detectors are important for early detection of fires. There are two
types of smoke detectors: photoelectric, which detects only visible products
of combustion, and ionizing, which detects both the visible and invisible
products of combustion. Ionizing (or ion chamber) smoke detectors contain a
very small amount of radioactive material, Americium-241 (Am-241). Am-241 has
a half life of 458 years and emits alpha particles. The ionizing smoke
detector is constructed so that to gain access to the radioactive sections
would require the complete destruction of the smoke detector. The best way to
dispose of an ionizing smoke detector is to return it to the manufacturer. The
photoelectric smoke detector can be disposed of in the trash.
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