RECENT PROGRESS IN DECORPORATION OF PLUTONIUM, AMERICIUM AND THORIUM

The substances of choice for enhancing the excretion of transportable forms of Pu, Am and Th from humans are the trisodium calcium or zinc s alts of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA). This paper summaris es recent studies with laboratory animals which suggest that oral admi nistration or infusion of DTPA would be an effective treatment for inh aled Pu and Am. The review is, however, devoted principally to progres s achieved with siderophore analogues for the decorporation of Pu, Am and Th. Experimental evidence is presented which shows that the hydrox ypyridinone derivative 3,4,3-LIHOPO, can be appreciably more effective than DTPA after their administration by intravenous injection, inhala tion or wound contamination. Its use for humans must depend on the res ults of comprehensive toxicity testing, but the evidence available so far is encouraging. Potentially 3,4,3-LIHOPO represents a most signifi cant advance for the decorporation of Pu, Am and Th. However, other si derophore analogues such as TREN-(3,2-HOPO) are worthy of further inve stigation.