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Facts
About Prussian Blue
Prussian blue can remove select radioactive materials from people’s bodies,
but must be taken under the guidance of the Radiation Emergency Assistance
Center/Training Site (REAC/TS) of the Oak Ridge Institute.
People may become
internally contaminated (inside their bodies) with radioactive materials
by accidentally ingesting (eating or drinking) or inhaling (breathing) them.
The sooner that these materials are removed from the body, the fewer and
less severe the health effects of the contamination will be. Prussian blue
is a substance that can help remove certain radioactive materials from people’s
bodies. However, Prussian blue currently is available only when doctors have
determined that a person is internally contaminated.
What Prussian
blue is
Prussian blue was first produced as a blue dye in 1704 and has been used by
artists and manufacturers ever since. It got its name from its use as a dye
for Prussian military uniforms. Prussian blue dye and paint are still available
today from art supply stores.
Use of
Prussian blue to treat radioactive contamination
Since the 1960s, Prussian blue has been used to treat people who have been
internally contaminated with radioactive cesium (mainly Cs-137) or thallium
(mainly Tl-201). Prussian blue can be given at any point after doctors have
determined that a person is internally contaminated. Prussian blue will help
speed up the removal of cesium and thallium from the body.
Biological
half-life is the time that it takes a
substance in the body to be reduced by ½. |
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How Prussian
blue works
Radioactive cesium and thallium, whether ingested or inhaled, will end up in
the intestines. Prussian blue traps these materials in the intestines and keeps
them from being absorbed by the body. The radioactive materials then move through
the intestines and are excreted in bowel movements. Prussian blue reduces the biological
half-life of cesium in the body from about 115 days to about 40 days. Prussian
blue reduces the biological half-life of thallium from about 8 days to about
3 days. Because Prussian blue reduces the time that radioactive cesium and
thallium stay in the body, it helps limit the amount of time the body is exposed
to radiation.
Who can
take Prussian blue
People may be prescribed Prussian blue during an emergency when cesium or thallium
has entered their bodies. Because Prussian blue is only approved for limited
use it must be taken under the guidance of REAC/TS. The drug is safe for all
adults, children, and infants, including pregnant women and women who are breast-feeding
their babies. Prussian blue may not be recommended for people who have had
constipation or blockages in the intestines.
Side effects
of Prussian blue
The most common side effects of Prussian blue are upset stomach and constipation.
These side effects can easily be treated with other medications. People will
have blue feces during the time that they are taking Prussian blue.
Where
you can get Prussian blue
Prussian blue is not routinely available. When approved for use by REAC/TS
it is supplied in 500-milligram capsules that can be swallowed whole or mixed
in liquid for children to drink. The amount to be taken depends on how badly
a person is contaminated. Prussian blue must be taken 3-4 times a day for up
to 150 days, depending on the extent of the contamination, under the supervision
of a doctor.
People SHOULD
NOT take Prussian blue artist’s dye in an attempt to treat
themselves. This type of Prussian blue is not designed to treat radioactive
contamination and is not manufactured in a germ-free area. People who are
concerned about the possibility of being contaminated with radioactive
cesium or thallium should go to their doctors for advice and treatment.
Where
you can get more information
More detailed information on Prussian blue can be found at the
REAC/TS web site, at the National
Institutes of Health web site, or at the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration web site.
You may also call the CDC Public Response line at 1-800-311-3435 or visit the CDC
web site to request more information.
The Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) protects people’s health and safety
by preventing and controlling diseases and injuries; enhances health decisions
by providing credible information on critical health issues; and promotes healthy
living through strong partnerships with local, national, and international organizations.
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