Effect of Diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic Acid and Polypropylenoglycolethylene Oxide Polymer on Excretion of Inhaled ²³⁹PuO₂ in Dogs

Abstract

THE harmful effects of inhaled plutonium have been demonstrated in numerous experiments with animals^1–4. These investigations emphasized the need for methods of removing plutonium in the event that it is deposited in the respiratory tract of human beings. This reports the results of tests with ‘Pluronics F68’ (polypropylenoglycolethylene oxide polymer) (Wyandotte Chemical Co., Wyandotte, Michigan) and DTPA (diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic acid) (provided by Geigy Research Laboratories, Yonkers, New York) in dogs to determine their effectiveness in removing plutonium following inhalation of ²³⁹PuO₂. ‘Pluronics F68’ is a surface active agent and is relatively non-toxic. According to the manufacturer the LD₅₀ dose for acute oral toxicity is 15 g/kg, and no toxic symptoms occur in dogs given 0.1 g/kg intravenously. DTPA is a chelating agent which has been shown to increase the excretion of intravenously administered plutonium in rats⁵. It has also been shown to increase the excretion of plutonium by human beings⁶. However, since the route of entry, the body burden, and the chemical form of the plutonium were not known in the case of the human exposures, the effectiveness of DTPA in removing inhaled plutonium has not been specifically evaluated.