Ca EDTA and the Excretion of Plutonium. ∗

Abstract

Summary

1. A comparison of Ca EDTA and Zr citrate for the therapy of acute Pu poisoning was made in which it was found that Ca EDTA brought forth greater Pu excretion (50% greater than controls) than did the Zr citrate (10% greater than controls). The use of the latter agent resulted in lower Pu skeletal content than occurred in the Ca EDTA treated animals. Combined Ca EDTA and Zr citrate treatment produced the same results as Zr citrate alone. 2. Ca EDTA administered long after Pu was deposited in bone did remove Pu from the skeleton but this is a slow process. 3. A comparison of a regimen of Na EDTA and Ca EDTA with one using Ca EDTA alone in acute Pu exposures showed no advantage to either. 4. Ca EDTA did not influence passage of Pu across the lung alveolar membrane. 5. Ca EDTA did not influence the rate of mobilization of Pu from an intramuscular site. 6. Ca EDTA did not influence the rate of absorption of Pu from the gastrointestinal tract.