Newsgroups: comp.robotics
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From: ntaib@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (Iskandar Taib)
Subject: Re: Electrostatic Autopilots
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References: <1n3hvnINNequ@gap.caltech.edu> <1993Mar4.031815.29240@ee.ubc.ca> <1993Mar5.064759.15138@netcom.com>
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Date: Sun, 7 Mar 1993 01:45:22 GMT
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In article <1993Mar5.064759.15138@netcom.com> park@netcom.com (Bill Park) writes:

>The radioactive materials in a smoke detector are hazardous.  Note the
>warning sticker on the sensor.  Mine says:  "Caution.  Radioactive
>material, AM241 - 1.0 microCi" which means it contains the isotope
>Americium 241, with a radioactivity measured as one microCurie.
>It also warns that the device should be returned to the manufacturer
>for repair OR DISPOSAL.

>Granted, one microcurie is not a very strong source of radiation.
>Nevertheless, hobbyists thinking of disassembling smoke detectors to
>obtain the ion sources for use in an electrostatic autopilot should
>realize that they will be handling small pieces of radioactive metal.

>Not the kind of thing you would want the baby to pick up and swallow!


The danger here would be ingestion, or, if the thing falls apart
to a powder, inhalation. I don't think they'd be too dangerous to 
handle.





-- 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Iskandar Taib                          | The only thing worse than Peach ala
Internet: NTAIB@SILVER.UCS.INDIANA.EDU |    Frog is Frog ala Peach
Bitnet:   NTAIB@IUBACS                 !
