ML20044A628
| ML20044A628 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 05/23/1990 |
| From: | Taylor J NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Kaptur M HOUSE OF REP. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20044A629 | List: |
| References | |
| CCS, NUDOCS 9006290307 | |
| Download: ML20044A628 (3) | |
Text
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
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The Honorable Marcy Kaptur United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515
Dear Congresswoman Kaptur:
I am responding to your A 25, 1990, letter to the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) pril regarding-an inquiry from one of your constituents about the safety and proper disposal of smoke detectors containing radioactive material.
CPSC referred your letter to the U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), as the regulation of such devices is within NRC's jurisdiction.
In developing the regulation that permits the public'to buy and dispose of smoke detectors containing radioactive material by normal means, NRC determined that there was no significant risk to the public associated with the unrestricted disposal of large numbers of smoke detectors.. Current labeling of smoke detectors is intended only to inform members of the public who purchase tnem that the devices contain radioactive material, are manufactured in accordance with NRC requirements, and do not convey any regulatory requirements to the purchaser.
Your constituent may have an older unit which did include a
<1 label that recommended return of the unit to the manufacturer. This recommendation is no longer included in labels on the detectors, tnd the detectors may be discarded as normal waste.
An analysis of use and disposal of smoke detectors has been documented in an environmental assessment, NUREG/CR-1156, " Environmental Assessment of Ionization Chamber Smoke Detectors Containing Am-241." The environmental assessment concluded that the manufacture, distribution, use, and disposal of 14 million Am-241 smoke detectors would result in a risk, to the exposed population, of. approximately 0.1 fatal cancers per year. However, these devices would have the potential to save 1500 to 5000 lives per year. Thus, the benefit of allowing the public the unregulated purchase, use, and disposal of Am-241_ smoke detectors far outweighs the small potential risk of allowing normal disposal of the slight aniounts of radioactivity in these devices. We concluded that subjecting the users of smoke detectors to regulatory control would not significantly change the small radiological risk, but might inhibit their extensive use, thus reducing the number of lives that could be saved through early detection of smoke and fire.
Rather than subjecting the individual consumer to regulatory controls, the
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NRC protects the public health and safety in the use of ionization smoke detectors through control over the design and manufacture of the detectors.
3 The manufacturer must apply for and obtain a license from NRC to distribute the product. The license is granted only after the applicant has demonstrated j
that the smoke detector is designed and will be manufactured according to specific requirements and safety criteria.
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' The Honorable Marcy Kaptur.l i
In case you or your constituent are interested in the technical details of the assessment and regulations, we have enclosed copies of 10 CFR Parts 30 and 32, and NUREG/CR 1156.
I trust that this reply responds to your concerns.
Sincerely, i
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l J mes M. T or 1
xecutive Director for Operations l
Enclosures:
- 1. :10 CFR. Part 30 2.
10 CFR part 32 3.-
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l MARCY KAPTUR waswinofon oence
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Lt. b360 60ilgitBS Of the idnited States house of Representatiets Washington, M 20515 April 25, 1990 Mr. Edward D. Harrill, Director Office of Congressional Relations 1
Consumer Product Safoty Commission Westwood' Towers 5401 Westbard Avenue Bethesda, MD 20207
Dear Mr. Harrill:
t I am writing on behalf of a constituent who has contacted me regarding the safety of home smoke detectors.
Her recent discovery of a label on the inside of smoke detectors installed in l
her home, has caused a great deal of concern.
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The' smoke detectors she has installed include warnings about radioactive materials in the detector.
The warning indicates that the detectors may not be destroyed in household waste bins, but rather disposed of only by the manufacturer or unspecified disposal methods.
I will appreciate any information you can provide regarding the safety of such mechanisms in the household and, if they are not dangorous, why disposal by traditional means is unacceptable.
Should you have questions regarding this request, please feel free to call on Steve Katich in my District Office at (419)259-7500.
You may forward.any correspondence to.Mr..Katich as.well.
Thank you for your assistance in this matter,
- ncerely, e
MARCY KA Member of ngress MK:sk APR 301990 L.