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

Abstract

Sixteen Holstein cows, averaging 23 6 kg milk per day, were used in a singlefactor design consisting of four treatment levels and four replicates, to study the effectiveness of verxite flakes for in vivo binding of 134Cs. Yerxite was incorporated into the morning grain ration at levels of 0.82, 0.54, 0.27, or 0 kg per day per cow. Each cow received 0.2 /zCi of 134Cs daily in the afternoon grain ration. There were no statistically significant differences observed in miIk concentration of Na, K, Ca, or Mg as a result of verxite feeding. However, marked differences were noted in milk la4Cs levels. Compared to the nonverxite group, the average per cent reductions of lS4Cs in the secreted milk of the verxitetreated groups were 88, 84, and 68, respectively, for the 0.82, 0.54, and 0.27 kg daily verxite intakes. These results indicate that feeding verxite flakes in sufficient quantity could serve as an effective means of reducing radioactive Cs levels in milk.