New guidance on use of radiation decontamination drug

14 December 2010

The Health Protection Agency has today published advice on how to use the chemical compound Prussian Blue to help remove a type of radioactive substance from the body.

Prussian Blue increases people's excretion of radioactive caesium which has entered the body by swallowing, breathing in or through a cut (internal radiocaesium).

The HPA advises healthcare workers how to monitor and prioritise the treatment of patients with internal radiocaesium. It also provides guidance on when treatment should start and finish.

Dr Jill Meara of the Health Protection Agency said: "After an intake into the body, radiocaesium is evenly distributed around the body and is excreted slowly through the gut, urine and sweat. Prussian Blue can help reduce the radiation dose by up to two-thirds. It is a safe and effective drug, but requires a long course of treatment under medical supervision."

During an incident, the HPA reminds healthcare workers to check for, and then remove, radioactive caesium found on the outside of the body as this will help reduce the potential for future internal doses. However, lifesaving emergency treatment should always take priority over patient prioritisation, monitoring or decontamination.

Press enquiries: please contact the HPA's Press Office on (01235) 822876, 822737, 822745 or email: pressoffice@hpa.org.uk

Notes to editors

To see the full report (RCE 17): Use of Prussian Blue (Ferric Hexacyanoferrate) for Decorporation of Radiocaesium Advice from the Health Protection Agency Documents, go to: http://www.hpa.org.uk/Publications/Radiation/DocumentsOfTheHPA/

Prussian Blue

Prussian Blue is a chemical compound that was originally used as a dye. In pharmaceutical formulation and dose it does not produce significant side effects in most people.

Radiocaesium

Radioactive caesium (radiocaesium) is a product of nuclear fission that is used in radiation sources for industry and medicine.

Dose during a radiation incident involving radiocaesium

Treatment is best started within about seven days of intake, but will still deliver a useful dose saving if treatment starts within 28 days. Any radiation exposure should be reduced to as low as reasonably achievable, and so treatment should continue until it is no longer providing a significant reduction in committed effective dose. Treatment may need to last three to six months.

Closeness to incident

Those who were close to, or in contact with, the source of contamination (people in the immediate vicinity, first-responders not wearing respiratory personal protective equipment) will have a greater likelihood of internal contamination than those who were further away.

Whole body monitoring

Whilst some assessment of radiation dose is possible with basic radiation monitors, whole body monitoring would usually be needed to define patients who needed treatment and monitor its effect.

Other countermeasures

While Prussian Blue can be effective in reducing doses from intakes of radiocaesium it should not replace other countermeasures in emergency plans such as sheltering, evacuation and the use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for emergency responders.

The advice also describes how a release of radiocaesium into the public environment may be detected. These include:

• Effects on human health such as radiation sickness or radiation burn
• Detection through monitors at airports or other locations
• Using visual clues such as radiation warning signs
  

 

Last reviewed: 15 December 2010