Use of DTPA for Increasing the Rate of Elimination of Plutonium-238 and Americium-241 from Rodents after their Inhalation as the Nitrates

This study has shown that: both inhaled (2 mumol/kg) and injected (30 mumol/kg) diethylenetriaminepenta-acetic acid (DTPA) can reduce the lung deposit of 238 Pu and 241 Am inhaled as nitrate to about 1% of that in untreated controls; injection of DTPA is more effective than aerosolized DTPA for reducing deposits of 238Pu and 241Am in the liver and skeleton; combined treatment involving early inhalation of DTPA followed by repeated intravenous injections is likely to be the most effective treatment for workers who have accidentally inhaled plutonium and americium nitrates.