Verxite Flakes for in Vivo Binding of Cesium-134 in Cows

Synthesis, effectiveness and metabolic fate in cows of the caesium complexing compound ammonium ferric hexacyanoferrate labelled with 14C

“…The increased excretion of radiocaesium by modification of dietary intake of potassium and sodium (Mraz et al 1957), other primary nutrients (Johnson et al 1968;Snipes & Riedesel, 1969) and even stable caesium (Furchner & Richmond, 1962) was not very effective. The mixing of additives such as vermiculite (Hazzard et al 1969) or bentonite (Van den Hoek, 1976) up to 10% of daily food intake was necessary to achieve an 80% reduction of caesium in milk.…”

The Removal and/or Reduction of Radionuclides in the Food Chain

“…Feeding cows for 21 days with vermiculite (verxite flakes) in the morning grain ration, at a level of 0.82, 0.54, and 0.27 kg per day, reduced 134Cs secreted in the milk by 88%, 84%, and 68%, respectively, when compared with the control group. Milk mineral content was not affected by this treatment (59). The main limitation to the use of bentonite and vermiculite in the reduction of Cs transfer from fodder to the milk and meat is the high dosage that has to be fed to the animal.…”

Safety and efficacy of vermiculite as a feed additive for pigs, poultry, bovines, sheep, goats, rabbits and horses

“…Seven publications were instead provided, in which the additive was used for various purposes. Vermiculite was used (i) as a binder for 134 Cs in a study in dairy cows (Hazzard et al., ) and for aflatoxin B1 in a study in shrimps (Arunlertaree et al., ), (ii) as a carrier, for fats in a study in pigs for fattening (Keaschall et al., ) and for vitamin E in two studies in chickens for fattening (Baker et al., and Lauzon et al., ), (iii) as a substitute of roughage in a study in sheep (Dinius et al., ) and iv) to restrict the nutrient content of the diet in a study in laying hens (Khokrin and Khan, , available only as an abstract).…”