A smoke detector contains about 0.25 μg of americium [0], which is painted on the inside of a chamber. In small quantities, it seems americium dioxide can only

A smoke detector contains about 0.25 μg of americium [0], which is painted on the inside of a chamber. In small quantities, it seems americium dioxide can only be dangerous if inhaled [0]. According to David Hahn's Wikipedia page[1], his reactor used thorium, purified from thorium ash used in lantern mantles, and not americium. What's more, smoke detectors go straight to landfills in many places. I think it's unresonable to consider them a realistic threat. [0] http://media.cns-snc.ca/pdf_doc/ecc/smoke_am241.pdf http://media.cns-snc.ca/pdf_doc/ecc/smoke_am241.pdf [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Hahn#Creation_of_the_reactor http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Hahn#Creation_of_the_reac...