• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 1997

Chitosan, a natural nontoxic chelator, was reported to reduce whole body retention of radiostrontium in mice. As calcium has a simillar chemical properties to strontium both of which be easily bound with hydroxyapatite structure, calcium can be either a competitor or enhancer to chitosan on the removal of radiostrontium. We compared the effect of chitosan and calcium on the excretion of ingested radiostrontium ($^{85}$Sr). Chitosan or calcium($Cacl_2$) and usual food was mixed as 1:99 by weight. The mixed food to chitosan (group 1) or calcium (group 2) were given orally for 30 days before $^{85}$Sr administration. In other groups, mixed calcium and chitosan solution (group 3), 1% calcium (group 4), or 1% chitosan solution (group 5) was given for 7 days immediately after oral administration of $^{85}SrC1_2$ ($0.25{\mu}Ci$). In control group, no chitosan or calcium were given. Either chitosan or calcium was effective on the removal of $^{85}Sr$ from mouse body(Table. 1). Addition of calcium on chitosan did not improve or deteriorate the effect of chitosan on the removal of $^{85}Sr$ from mouse body. In conclusion, calcium was similarly effective on the removal of $^{85}Sr$ from mouse body.