First Aid After Internal Radiostrontium Contamination Using Oral Barium Sulphate

Abstract

Two cases are reported of slight internal contamination following accidental Sr90 nitrate inhalation, treated orally with barium sulphate given within 10 and 30 minutes following the accident. The effectiveness of oral barium sulphate treatment was also studied in rats. It caused an insignificant shift of intratracheally injected Sr90 from urine to feces, a significantly higher removal of intraperitoneally administered Sr90 via the gut, and a significantly lower absorption and skeletal deposition of Sr90 given orally. Barium sulphate is a useful substance for first aid in internal contamination with radiostrontium.