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Synthesis, effectiveness and metabolic fate in cows of the caesium complexing compound ammonium ferric hexacyanoferrate labelled with 14C

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 June 2009

Maurice J. Arnaud
Affiliation:
Nestlé Research Centre, Nestec Ltd, Vers-chez-les-Blanc, CH-1000 Lausanne 26, Switzerland
Charles Clement
Affiliation:
Abt. für Ernährungspathologie, Inst, für Tierzucht, Universität, 3012 Bern; mit Versuchsstation an der Eidg. Forschungsanstalt, Grangeneuve, 1725 Posieux, Switzerland
Françoise Getaz
Affiliation:
Nestlé Research Centre, Nestec Ltd, Vers-chez-les-Blanc, CH-1000 Lausanne 26, Switzerland
Fritz Tannhauser
Affiliation:
Allgäuer Alpenmilch AG, 8000 München 80, FRG
Rainer Schoenegge
Affiliation:
Allgäuer Alpenmilch AG, 8000 München 80, FRG
Jürg Blum
Affiliation:
Abt. für Ernährungspathologie, Inst, für Tierzucht, Universität, 3012 Bern; mit Versuchsstation an der Eidg. Forschungsanstalt, Grangeneuve, 1725 Posieux, Switzerland
Werner Giese
Affiliation:
Fachgebiet Medizinische Physik der Tierärztlichen Hochschule, Hannover, FRG

Summary

Adding ammonium ferric hexacyanoferrate (AFCF) to cows' fodder produced after the Chernobyl nuclear accident prevented milk contamination by increasing the faecal elimination of 137Cs. Synthesis of ammonium ferric hexa[14C]-cyanoferrate (AF14CF) and its purification were performed for the study of the metabolic fate of this complex, and the evaluation of the possible release of cyanide. The stability of this colloidal product, tested by anaerobic incubation in rumen juice in vitro, showed no release of free cyanide from AF14CF, but hexacyanoferrate was identified in the rumen juice and 0·13% of the added radioactivity was converted to labelled CO2. AF14CF administered per os to two cows showed a nearly quantitative excretion of radioactivity in faeces during the first 3 d (91–95%). A very low but significant level of radioactivity appeared in plasma, blood cells, expired CO2 and was detected in organs taken 9 d after administration. Total cumulative radioactivity in urine and milk amounted to 0·19–0·47% and 0·068–0·071% respectively for the two cows. Labelled hexacyanoferrate and thiocyanate were identified in the urine and also in faeces. In spite of this relative instability of AFCF in the rumen of cows, the poor absorption of AF14CF degradation products showed that AFCF constitutes an efficient and safe food additive to prevent the absorption of radioactive caesium from ruminant feed and its secretion in milk.

Type
Original articles
Copyright
Copyright © Proprietors of Journal of Dairy Research 1988

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