The use of modified clay in reduction of 137Cs deposition in artificially contaminated broilers

Abstract

Animals, twenty Hubbard broiler chicks, were six weeks old and fed with diets of standard composition that have completely satisfied their nutritional needs. The chicks were randomly allotted into one of the four groups (five chicks per group) and kept in confinement (battery cage). At the beginning of the trial, each chick was orally contaminated with 137Cs of total activity of 3750 Bq. All groups of animals (control and experimental) received radiocaesium, while experimental groups in addition to contaminant, simultaneously received by 5 ml of various caesium binders. I experimental group was given organo-zeolite; II experimental group organo-bentonite solution and III experimental group of chicks received acid-activated sepiolite. The animals were sacrificed 24 hours after artificial contamination and administration of the binders. At that time samples of meat, liver and gizzard for gamma spectrometry determination of 137Cs concentration activity were taken. Administration of organo-zeolite lowered radiocaesium activity from 62.0 to 72.0%. Similar effects were recorded in organo-bentonite administration (59.8 to 67.2%), while efficiency of acid-activated sepiolite in decreasing radiocesium activity was lowest (24.4 to 36.0%). It can be said that the process of modification failed to show beneficial effects to improve radiocaesium binding and eliminating from digestive tract and body of broilers. Efficiency of protection was similar or the same as in the use of natural, unmodified clay minerals.