Reduction of radiocaesium transfer to broiler chicken meat by the hexacyanoferrate-cellulose binder “Bifezh”

Abstract

The influence of Bifezh (a hexacyanoferrate compound as veterinary feed additive) on the transfer of (137)Cs to meat was investigated in broiler chickens after application of an artificially contaminated feed mixture. The reduction factors reached 2.23 and 8.46 for single and multiple (137)Cs administration, respectively. The elimination rate of (137)Cs in the decontamination period was only slightly increased by Bifezh. The reduction effect of Bifezh was considerably and positively limited by various amounts of the additive during both radiocaesium accumulation and decontamination. No significant differences in the reduction effect between breast and thigh meat were observed. In conclusion, the hexacyanoferrate-cellulose binder Bifezh can be recommended as an alternative chemical measure for reducing (137)Cs contamination of broiler chicken meat, although administration rates may need to be enhanced over those currently recommended.

Artificial environmental radionuclides in Europe and methods of lowering their foodstuff contamination – a review

“…Administration of potassium in the diet caused an increase in radiocaesium excretion (Mraz et al 1958;Mraz 1959;Johnson et al 1968), while the administration of stable caesium was not efficient (Oughton et al 1989;Rundo 1964). Different complexes or chelating additives are used successfully, with the ability to absorb and/or to bind radionuclides forming chemical compounds not absorbed by the digestive tract but easily excreted from the body (Giese 1988;Giese 1989;Pöschl and Baláš 1999;Pöschl and Řezáč 2004). The same positive effect on 137 Cs contamination reduction was observed by adding 5% bentonite into a feeding ration (Andersson et al 1990).…”