Recent content by spark90

Thank you, you have been really generous with your time. Very grateful!

So you think that the yellow dust on the inner cover of my smoke detector was emitted through the ionisation chamber by the decay of the americium?

Thank you for your replies. Those are very detailed answers you gave me. I was only asking because I had read online of a 1970's smoke detector which had leaked a yellow dust which was covering the ionisation chamber and the physicist replied that it was due to the alpha recoil breaking down the...

That is very good of you to reply thank you so much. As you are an expert could you explain a post I saw on another forum which stated " It is the alpha recoil reaction that can destroy the thin coating over the source and allow source material to recoil out of the source." Apparently this...

Yeah that is true. I just wasn't sure if it sounded daft or whether it was reasonable

Can I say a massive thanks to everyone for replying I really appreciate it. The reason I went on a bit was because I read on another site a post that concerned me:- "It is the alpha recoil reaction that can destroy the thin coating over the source and allow source material to recoil out of the...

Thanks for your time, I was really just wanting to know a simple answer to whether americium decays over the years producing dust which can escape the ionisation chamber. Thanks again

Thank you really appreciate your time, still don't understand really if americium breaks down to produce dust which can escape the ionisation slats-could you briefly explain that...and I promise that is my last question. You are very kind taking the time to reply.

I am just a member of the public and know nothing about radiation. I just assumed amercium decays over time and would produce dust which could escape the slats of the ionisation chamber. Sorry I have anxiety and looking for some facts.

In regards to you said "thats not what radiation is", I am just interested what you mean by that, thanks

Not sure what you mean by that. I have anxiety and sm just looking reassurance, what do you mean risk of nuclear radiation?

Thank you for your reply. As my smoke detector is 27 years old I was worried health and safety wasn't as good then. As dust from the inside of the cover could have been inhaled when falling into my eyes, are you aware of whether when americium decays over the years does it produce dust and could...

Thank you for your reply. As my smoke detector is 27 years old I was worried health and safety wasn't as good then. As dust from the inside of the cover could have been inhaled when falling into my eyes, are you aware of whether when americium decays over the years does it produce dust and could...

No, I was just concerned that the dust into my eyes and hence was inhaled when I opened the smoke detector cover was dust from the decay of the americium inside the smoke detector.

Recently when cleaning, I opened the cover of our ionisation smoke detector and as I was touching all around the inside of the smoke detector with my bare hands and most importantly including all the sides of the ionization chamber with the radiation symbol on it which contains the radiation...