We are very much in the early stages of this work but we have the following conclusions:
People who have no gut SRBS are at greater risk from the ingestion of heavy metals. The presence of methane on the breath is a rapid and easy way to identify these people.
2. A dietary supplement of Ferrous sulphate, large enough in quantity to produce black faeces, will promote the formation of the black clusters of iron sulphide by the SRB in the gut which will also incorporate most of the heavy metals.
3. The lower bowel exchanges solutes from the blood stream and it may be possible therefore to rapidly remove radioactive contamination from the body by Immobilisation onto SRBs and iron sulphide clusters in the lower bowel.
We would welcome the opportunity to work with Hong Kong Prison Service on these problems and we look forward to your reactions to our suggestions.
Yours sincerely
JHP Watson
Dr J.H.P. Watson
University of Southampton
Professor D.C. Ellwood University of Durham
Dr M. J. Hill
Public Health Laboratory Service