|
|
|
|
|
                |
|
||
 |
Multimedia |
 |
||
 |
||||
|
 |
|
||||
|
Americium-241 Americium-241 is a man-made metal with a half-life of 432.7 years. It is a radioactive isotope and emits mostly alpha and some gamma radiation. It is commonly known for its use in household and industrial smoke detectors, and it is also used in a number of other commercial applications, including research and medical diagnostic devices. In large enough amounts, the alpha and gamma radiation emitted by americium-241 can cause harm to body tissue if inhaled or ingested. The gamma rays may also be dangerous if the body is directly exposed to the radioactive material. Because the gamma ray is much lower in energy than the alpha particle, the primary health hazard arises from the alpha radiation. If americium-241 is combined with beryllium in a radioactive source, the source is used to produce neutrons. This application is common in the oil well logging industry.
|
|
|
|||
|
|
 |
|
  |
This
material is produced independently for NTI by the Center for Nonproliferation
Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies and does
not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has not been independently
verified by NTI or its directors, officers, employees, agents.
|
