The removal of americium and plutonium from the rat by chelating agents.

The effect of treatment with a number of different chelating agents on the retention of plutonium or americium has been studied in rats. Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) was found to be the most effective reagent for the removal of both plutonium and americium. The effects of different times and patterns of treatment have been investigated and it has been shown that for both elements the greatest reduction in retention occurs when treatment is commenced very shortly after exposure.