Hi,[b said:Quote[/b] (Amateur_Expert @ Sep. 26 2004,10:53)]That glowring isn't anything to worry alot about, if you guys have smoke detectors in your homes (which legally you have to have) you might want to know that smoke detectors contain americium-241 which emmits alpha radiation. It works by having alpha particles travel at high speed and knock electrons from molecules in the air. The ionized air completes a small electrical circuit inside the smoke detector. When smoke enters, it breaks the circuit created by the ionized air, and the alarm goes off. Don't feel like going near your smoke detector now do you? I think the "we fear that in which we don't understand" quote ifits well in this situation..
alpha-Radiation consists of very big parts which only reach few cm in air and they are already shielded by a sheet of paper. So as long as you don't dismount your smoke detector there is virtually no risk. Modern smoke detectors all work by optical means which is not harmful at all - are these ancient radioactive smoke detectors still sold in the US?
Joachim
P.S.: tweek, there is a massive difference between natural radioctive radiation ond the stuff inside this keyring!