what is the name of the source of alpha radiation in a smoke alarm
Smoke detector The americium-241 in ionizing smoke detectors poses a potential environmental hazard, albeit a very small one. Disposal regulations and recommendations for smoke detectors vary from region to region.[21][22] The amount of radioactive material contained in ionizing smoke detectors is very small and thus doesn't represent a significant radiological hazard. If the americium is left in the ionization chamber of the alarm the radiological risk is insignificant because the chamber acts as a shield to the alpha radiation. A person would have to open the sealed chamber and ingest or inhale the americium for the risk to be significant. The radiation risk of exposure to an ionic smoke detector is much smaller than natural background radiation under normal operation.