lanthanum phosphate is in a class of medications called phosphate binders. It works by binding phosphorus in your digestive tract and preventing it from being absorbed into your bloodstream. This helps reduce phosphate levels in your body, which can be high because of kidney disease or other conditions. lanthanum phosphate is also used to treat phosphate levels in people with a rare condition called nephrogenic hyperphosphatemia, in which excess phosphorus builds up in the body and can cause bone problems.
Lanthanum is a soft, silver-white metal with a low melting point. It is not soluble in water and converts to the oxide when heated (calcined). lanthanum phosphate hydroxide can be prepared by reacting it with water or aqueous acids such as acetic acid. The hydroxide is then treated with aqueous bases to produce the salt form. lanthanum phosphate is stable at room temperature and is incompatible with strong oxidizing agents.
Ecologix sells lanthanum chloride and cerium/lanthanum chloride (CLC) for use in the zoo, aquarium, fishery, landscape maintenance, and swimming pool industries to reduce phosphorus levels in water and prevent toxic algal blooms. Lanthanum and cerium are rare earth elements with low acute toxicity and LD50 values. They are generally well tolerated by the skin, eyes and gastrointestinal tract.