Reduction of 85Sr, 137Cs, 131I and 141Ce retention in rats by simultaneous oral administration of calcium alginate, ferrihexacyanoferrate(II), KI and Zn-DTPA.

The effect of simultaneous oral administration of a mixture of calcium alginate, ferrihexacyanoferrate(II) and KI and of the chelating agent zinc diethylenetriaminepentaacetate (Zn-DTPA) on the retention of radioactive Sr, Cs, I and Ce was investigated in 7-week-old female rats. The respective antidotes were administered in food during the first three days of the experiment and the radionuclides were administered on the second day of the experiment. The radionuclide retention was determined in the whole body, carcass, gut, liver, kidneys and respective critical organs six days after oral administration of 85Sr, 137Cs, 131I and intraperitoneal administration of 141Ce and one day after oral administration of 141Ce. Simultaneous oral administration of the four therapeutic agents reduced the retention of radioactive Sr, Cs and I administered orally and Ce applied intraperitoneally. Zn-DTPA did not diminish efficacy of antidotes from the mixture nor did the mixture significantly alter the effect of Zn-DTPA. Simultaneous oral administration of calcium alginate, ferrihexacyanoferrate(II), KI and Zn-DTPA might present a convenient method for delayed therapy especially in cases of prolonged increased environmental exposure to several radionuclides.