Radioactive materials today are used not only for military purposes but also in common home appliances. One example of a civil product which contains a radioactive element is a smoke detector. These products that help prevent fires and save lives contain americium-241 (Americium in ionization smoke detectors, 2020). Particles of this material, when inhaled or absorbed through wounds, cause alpha radiation, which is not as dangerous as beta or gamma radiation (U.S. Department of Transportation, 2008). However, the U.S. law requires that any product which contains radioactive elements to be transported with adequate care. The two primary regulations in this regard are Packaging Requirements and Transporation of Hazardous Elements in Commerce, which are parts of Hazardous Materials Regulations.
Packaging Requirements demand that radioactive elements are shipped in containers that isolate hazardous materials from the environment. Alpha particles americium-241 can travel only to short distances, and their power decreases quickly (U.S. Department of Transportation, 2008). Therefore, a sheet of paper is enough to contain the radiation emitted from smoke detectors. In other words, no special boxes are needed to transport items that have americium-241, and the execution stage of transportation can undergo as it is usual with other products. The preparation stage could be more complicated, however. The law requires that each product that has hazardous substances be managed according to Transport Controls (U.S. Department of Transportation, 2017). These requirements include the Transport Index (TI), dose rates limits, and contamination limits. Therefore, during the preparation stage, the carrier should be provided with information that tells how many pieces of the product can be contained in a closed storage space. To calculate this TI, the manufacturer should have firm control over the production process and be aware of exact numbers regarding the amount of americium-241 used in smoke detectors.
References
Americium in ionization smoke detectors. (2020). United States Environmental Protection Agency.
U.S. Department of Transportation. (2008). Radioactive material [PDF document].
U.S. Department of Transportation. (2017). Hazmat law [PDF document]. Web.