BARIUM – A HIGHLY TOXIC METAL

by Dr. Lawrence Wilson

© March 2019, LD Wilson Consultants, Inc.

 

All information in this article is solely the opinion of the author and for educational purposes only.  It is not for the diagnosis, treatment, prescription or cure of any disease or health condition.

 

Contents

 

I. INTRODUCTION

Young Men Most Affected

Sources

 

II. METABOLISM AND SYMPTOMS

Metabolism

Acute Symptoms

Chronic Symptoms

 

III. REMOVAL AND PREVENTION

Removal

Prevention

 

IV. OTHER RELATED TOPICS

Interaction With Other Minerals

Barium And Hair Mineral Testing

 

V. A TECHNICAL ARTICLE ABOUT BARIUM

__________________________________

 

I. INTRODUCTION

 

            Barium is a very toxic metal that is a serious problem on earth today. It is an interesting mineral, in that it mainly affects men in their twenties. 

Other toxic metals such as Zirconium have a greater effect upon women, especially women in their twenties and thirties, and the effects are different.

 

SOURCES OF BARIUM

 

The most important source of barium is the chemtrails that are seen in the skies over many cities in America and other nations.  Barium sprayed from the air lands in the water supplies and in the food supply.

This is a Rogue project that is completely illegal and an invasion of the earth by advanced beings who do not want the people of earth to be healthy.  The dusting of the planet with barium has been going on for at least 50 years, and longer in some areas. 

Dusting with barium is now done throughout the planet, although most experts say there are more chemtrails over America than over any other nation.  Food-growing areas of the world such as California and mid-western states of America such as Iowa and Nebraska often have the most chemtrails.

 

Contrast medium.  The other large source of barium is x-ray studies of the digestive tract.  These radiologic tests are toxic for this reason and should be avoided, whenever possible.  They also damage digestion by irradiating the vital organs such as the stomach, small and large intestines, liver, spleen, pancreas, and intestinal lymph nodes.

 

II. METABOLISM AND SYMPTOMS OF BARIUM TOXICITY

 

METABOLISM OF BARIUM

 

Absorption.  Most barium is absorbed through the intestines from food and beverages.  Once absorbed, barium has an affinity for the bones and for the brain.

Barium is located underneath calcium on the periodic table of the elements.  This means that the barium atom ÒlooksÓ like a calcium atom in that the outer electron shell has the same number of electrons as does the calcium atom.

As a result, barium can replace calcium in certain enzyme binding sites and other places, including the bones, teeth and in the blood.  Blood contains a lot of calcium, which is used as a muscle relaxant and regulator of metabolism.  We call calcium the structural mineral because it gives strength and good structure to all tissues. 

 

Cardiovascular and nervous system effects.  Barium has toxic affects on many body systems.  However, among the most important are the cardiovascular system and the nervous system.

 

Central nervous system effects. Barium replaces some calcium in the brain.  This causes an unsteadiness in a person that weakens the will and causes general malaise, as well. 

For some reason, young men aged 15-30 are the most prone to this toxic effect of barium.  In them, it also causes a mental dullness and emotionally flat personality.

 

Cardiovascular effects.  Barium weakens the heart muscle and the arterial wall muscles.  It may have other cardiovascular toxicity as well.

 

Other acute toxicity.  At low doses, barium acts as a muscle stimulant, and at higher doses affects the nervous system eventually leading to paralysis.

Other acute symptoms are cardiac irregularities, weakness, tremors, anxiety, and difficulty breathing.  It can also cause a slow pulse, high blood pressure, diarrhea and vomiting.

 

CHRONIC SYMPTOMS

 

These are similar to the acute symptoms in that they mainly affect the cardiovascular and nervous systems of the body.  In addition, there is evidence that barium toxicity can result in reduced sperm motility and birth defects.  Excess barium is also associated with more cancers. 

These effects may be due to the antagonism between barium and zinc.  Zinc is required for the health of sperm and is protective against birth defects.

 

Symptoms worse in vegetarians, junk food eaters and those with sexual fluid loss.  Symptoms of barium toxicity are worse in:

1. Vegetarians

2. Those who have a lot of regular sex with fluid loss.

3. Those who are malnourished.  (The effects of exposure to many toxic metals are worse in those who are malnourished.)

One reason for the above is that vegetarians, those who have a lot of sexual fluid loss, and poorly nourished people all tend to be deficient in zinc.  Adequate zinc protects one to a degree against barium toxicity.

 

III. REMOVAL AND PREVENTION

 

REMOVING BARIUM

 

A development program.  This program will remove excess barium from the body.  The removal process is slow, however, and requires at least 10 years on a complete program.

The key to the program is the simultaneous used of about 20 methods of detoxification.  These include enhancing the eliminative organs, enhancing adaptive energy, making the body more yang in macrobiotic terms, reducing exposure, and improving hydration, oxygenation and circulation.

Other methods used in this program are balancing and strengthening the autonomic nervous system, balancing key mineral levels and ratios, putting the person into a more parasympathetic state, increasing rest and sleep, antagonist therapy, very mild chelation therapy, improving the activity of the digestive organs, and improving the overall lifestyle and nutrition of a person.

A major reason that correction is slow is that it is impossible today to eliminate all exposure to barium.  Through the food and water, everyone is re-exposed and this slows detoxification.  However, at least a development program can help and is very safe. 

 

Other methods.  Most physicians and nutritionists are using just one or two detoxification methods listed above.  In our experience, this is much less safe and less effective.  These include:

Antagonist therapy.  This is a simple method of giving a person barium antagonists, such as zinc and calcium, to help eliminate barium.  The problem is that one can unbalance the body by just giving minerals in a fairly random manner.  It is also not too powerful a method by itself.

This method works to a slight degree, only.  It will help reduce barium absorption and this method is incorporated into all development programs.  That is, everyone on a development program receives a diet high in calcium and zinc and receives supplements of these two minerals as well.

Chelation.  Synthetic and natural chelating agents can lower barium levels in the body.  However, by itself, this method is not too effective.  Chelation is also toxic.  For details, read Chelation Therapy.

 

PREVENTING BARIUM TOXICITY

 

It is difficult or impossible on earth to avoid the effects of chemtrails.  However, one can:

1. Reduce exposure to barium.  Ways to do this are:

A. Eat organically grown food.  This food tends to be lower in barium because it is higher in zinc, calcium and other minerals that compete with barium for absorption.

B. Minimize your exposure to x-ray contrast media containing barium.  These are mainly x-rays of the digestive tract such as the stomach, small intestine and large intestine.

C. Avoid occupational exposure, although this is uncommon.

 

2. Maintain good zinc status in the body.  This requires a diet of all natural foods, preferably organically grown. 

Also, avoid vegetarian and vegetarian-leaning diets.  In other words, eat animal protein every day and eat red meat, which has the most zinc, twice per week.

Also, minimize ordinary sex with orgasm.   Down Sex is much more healthful.

 

IV. OTHER RELATED TOPICS

 

INTERACTION WITH OTHER MINERALS

 

Calcium.  As mentioned earlier, barium is found beneath calcium on the Periodic Table Of The Elements.  When an element is found beneath another element on this table, it usually means that the element has some of the same chemical properties of the elements above it and may replace the element above it.  This is the case with barium.

Barium interferes with calcium metabolism and can replace calcium in some enzyme binding sites.  This is one way it affects the cardiovascular and nervous systems of the human and animal body.

 

Potassium.  Barium lowers potassium, as can calcium.  With severe acute exposure, this antagonism can cause death from cardiovascular and respiratory collapse. 

The antagonism between calcium and potassium is well established in development science.

 

            Zinc. Zinc is a powerful barium antagonist and protects the body to a degree against barium toxicity.

Barium replaces zinc in some enzyme systems.  This may be a reason why barium is particularly toxic for young men, who require excellent zinc levels to function well. 

Most young men are very deficient in zinc due to deficiency in all of the food supply and due to poor quality diets.  Most young men are also deficient in calcium and other minerals.  As a result, they are extremely prone to barium toxicity.

             

BARIUM AND HAIR MINERAL ANALYSIS

 

The hair level of barium often reflects the degree of barium toxicity inside the body.  In some cases, barium may not be elevated on an initial hair mineral test.  However, as some of it is removed through the skin and hair during a development program, the hair level will often elevate on retest mineral analyses.

At this time (December 2019), Analytical Research Labs does not read hair barium levels.  A few other laboratories do read barium levels, but these labs do less accurate testing, so we cannot rely upon them.

In development science, fortunately we do not need to measure barium, although it would be nice.  The program will remove all toxic metals.

Ideal ranges too high.  A hidden problem is that the Ònormal rangeÓ of barium used by laboratories that read this mineral in the hair are too high, in our view.  The reason for this is that toxicity with barium is epidemic.

In general, we use lower ideal or normal limits for toxic metals compared to other physicians and laboratories.

 

 

V. A TECHNICAL ARTICLE ABOUT BARIUM TOXICITY

 

The following is a technical article about barium.  We may not agree with all of it, but we believe it is a very good article.

This material was researched and compiled by A. A. Francis, M.S., D.A.B.T., and Carol S. Forsyth, Ph.D.  They are members of the Chemical Hazard Evaluation Group in the Biomedical and Environmental Information Analysis Section, Health Sciences Research Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

 

SUMMARY

 

        The soluble salts of barium, an alkaline earth metal, are toxic in mammalian systems. They are absorbed rapidly from the gastrointestinal tract and are deposited in the muscles, lungs, and bone. Barium is excreted primarily in the feces.

Acute Toxicity. A drop in serum potassium may account for some of the symptoms. Death can occur from cardiac and respiratory failure. Acute doses around 0.8 grams can be fatal to humans.

        Sub-chronic and chronic oral or inhalation exposure primarily affects the cardiovascular system resulting in elevated blood pressure.  A lowest-observed-adverse-effect level (LOAEL) of 0.51 mg barium/kg/day based on increased blood pressure was observed in chronic oral rat studies (Perry et al. 1983), whereas human studies identified a no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) of 0.21 mg barium/kg/day (Wones et al. 1990, Brenniman and Levy 1984).

The human data were used by the EPA to calculate a chronic and subchronic oral reference dose (RfD) of 0.07 mg/kg/day (EPA 1995a,b). In the Wones et al. study, human volunteers were given barium up to 10 mg/L in drinking water for 10 weeks. No clinically significant effects were observed. An epidemiological study was conducted by Brenniman and Levy in which human populations ingesting 2 to 10 mg/L of barium in drinking water were compared to a population ingesting 0 to 0.2 mg/L. No significant individual differences were seen; however, a significantly higher mortality rate from all combined cardio­vascular diseases was observed with the higher barium level in the 65+ age group.

The average barium concentration was 7.3 mg/L, which corresponds to a dose of 0.20 mg/kg/day. Confidence in the oral RfD is rated medium by the EPA.

        Subchronic and chronic inhalation exposure of human populations to barium-containing dust can result in a benign pneumoconiosis called Òbaritosis.Ó This condition is often accompanied by an elevated blood pressure but does not result in a change in pulmonary function.

Exposure to an air concentration of 5.2 mg barium carbonate/m3 for 4 hours/day for 6 months has been reported to result in elevated blood pressure and decreased body weight gain in rats (Tarasenko et al. 1977). Reproduction and developmental effects were also observed.

Increased fetal mortality was seen after untreated females were mated with males exposed to 5.2 mg/m3 of barium carbonate. Similar results were obtained with female rats treated with 13.4 mg barium carbonate/m3. The NOAEL for developmental effects was 1.15 mg/m3 (equivalent to 0.8 mg barium/m3). An inhalation reference concentration (RfC) of 0.005 mg/m3 for subchronic and 0.0005 mg/m3 for chronic exposure was calculated by the EPA based on the NOAEL for developmental effects (EPA 1995a). These effects have not been substantiated in humans or other animal systems.

      Barium has not been evaluated by the EPA for evidence of human carcinogenic potential (EPA 1995b).

 

                                          

1. INTRODUCTION

        Barium (CAS registry number 7440-39-3) is a divalent alkaline-earth metal found only in combination with other elements in nature. The most important of these combinations are the peroxide, chloride, sulfate, carbonate, nitrate, and chlorate.

The pure metal oxidizes readily and reacts with water emitting hydrogen; it is chemically similar to calcium (Weast et al. 1987). The most likely source of barium in the atmosphere is from industrial emissions.

Since it is usually present as a particulate form, it can be removed from the atmosphere by wet precipitation and deposition. Due to the element's tendency to form salts with limited solubility in soil and water, it is expected to have a residence time of hundreds of years and is not expected to be very mobile. Acidic conditions, however, will increase the solubility of some barium compounds facilitating their movement from the soil to the groundwater (EPA 1984).

Trace amounts of barium were found in more than 99% of the surface waters and finished drinking water samples (average values of 43 μg/L, and 28.6 μg/L, respec­tively) across the United States (National Academy of Sciences 1977).

 

2. METABOLISM AND DISPOSITION

 

2.1 ABSORPTION

       The soluble forms of barium salts are rapidly absorbed into the blood from the intestinal tract. The rates of absorption of a number of barium salts have been measured in rats following oral exposure to small quantities (30 mg/kg body weight). The relative absorption rates were found to be: barium chloride > barium sulfate > barium carbonate. Large doses of barium sulfate do not increase the uptake of this salt because of its low solubility (McCauley and Washington 1983, EPA 1984).

        Systemic toxic effects have been observed following both oral and inhalation exposure. No absorption kinetics are available following inhalation exposure, although it is obvious that absorption does occur (EPA 1984).

 

2.2 DISTRIBUTION

        Barium absorbed into the bloodstream disappears in about 24 hours; however, it is deposited in the muscles, lungs, and bone. Very little is stored in the kidneys, liver, spleen, brain, heart, or hair. It remains in the muscles about 30 hours after which the concentration decreases slowly. The deposition of barium into bone is similar to calcium but occurs at a faster rate (Beliles 1994). The half life of barium in bone is estimated to be about 50 days (Machata 1988).

 

2.3 METABOLISM

       About 54% of the barium dose is protein bound. Barium is known to activate the secretion of catecholamines from the adrenal medulla without prior calcium deprivation. It may displace calcium from the cell membranes, thereby increasing permeability and providing stimulation to muscles. Eventual paralysis of the central nervous system can occur (Beliles 1994).

 

2.4 EXCRETION

       A tracer study in rats using 140Ba demonstrated that 7% and 20% of the barium dose was excreted in 24 hours in the urine and feces, respectively. In contrast, calcium is primarily excreted in the urine. The clearance of barium is enhanced with saline infusion (Beliles 1994). Following intravenous injection of barium into six healthy men, excretion was mainly fecal with the total relative fecal:urinary clearance for 14 days ranging from 6 to 15 (Newton et al. 1991).

 

3. NONCARCINOGENIC HEALTH EFFECTS

 

 3.1  ORAL EXPOSURES

 3.1.1 Acute Toxicity

 3.1.1.1 Human

        A number of accidental barium poisonings have occurred following the ingestion of barium salts. The estimated fatal dose of barium carbonate, a rodenticide, is about 5 grams for a 70 kg human (Arena 1979). The LD50 for barium chloride is estimated at about 1 gram for a 70 kg human (Machata 1988), and the LDLo (lowest published lethal dose) is reported to be about 0.8 grams (Lewis and Sweet 1984).

The acute symptoms include excess salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, increased blood pressure, muscular tremors, weakness, paresis, anxiety, dyspnea, and cardiac irregularities. A severe loss of potassium (and effects upon calcium) can account for some of the symptoms.

Convulsions and death from cardiac and respiratory failure can occur. Magnesium and sodium sulfate are antidotal if taken soon after ingestion since either salt will result in the formation of insoluble barium sulfate and prevent further absorption. Survival for more than 24 hours is usually followed by complete recovery (Arena 1979).

       Complications occurred in a woman following a barium swallow investigation for severe dysphagia. Direct aspiration of a large amount of barium into the right main bronchus resulted in tachycardia, tachypnoea, fever, and an oxygen saturation of 82%; two weeks later the woman still had a moist cough with widespread rales but continued to recover (Penington 1993).

        A family was accidentally poisoned with barium from eating their evening meal. The mother had fried fish breaded with a flour-like substance that turned out to be rat poison containing barium carbonate.

All seven family members, aged 2 to 48 years, developed nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and crampy abdominal pain within minutes of consuming the meal; the parents also developed ventricular tachy­cardia, flaccid paralysis of the extremities, shortness of breath (mother), and respiratory failure (father). Patients were treated symptomatically and all fully recovered (Johnson and VanTassell 1991).

3.1.1.2 Animal

        Similar acute symptoms occur in animals; however, higher doses are usually involved. The LD50 for rats is listed as 630 mg/kg for barium carbonate, 118 mg/kg for barium chloride, and 921 mg/kg for barium acetate (Lewis and Sweet 1984).

 

3.1.2 Subchronic Toxicity

 3.1.2.1 Human

        An experiment testing the subchronic toxicity of barium chloride on human volunteers was conducted by Wones et al. (1990). The diets of 11 male subjects were controlled. They were given 1.5 L/day of distilled and charcoal-filtered drinking water that contained 0 mg/L barium for weeks 1 and 2, 5 mg/L for weeks 3 to 6, and 10 mg/L for weeks 7 to 10. No clinically significant effects were observed in blood pressures, serum chemistry, urinalysis, or electrocardiograms. The 10 mg/L (0.21 mg/kg/day) dose was identified as a NOAEL.

3.1.2.2 Animal

        Groups of 30 male and 30 female Charles River rats were exposed to barium chloride at 0, 10, 50, or 250 ppm in drinking water for 90 days (Tardiff et al. 1980). The highest average dose in this study was calculated to be 45.7 mg/kg/day for female rats. No significant clinical signs of toxicity were observed. Blood pressure was not measured.

        McCauley et al. (1985) conducted drinking water studies in which six male Sprague-Dawley rats/group were given water containing 0, 10, 100, or 250 mg/L barium for 36 weeks, or 1, 10, 100, or 1000 mg/L barium for 16 weeks. Female rats were given 0 or 250 mg/L for 46 weeks. Animals receiving the 1000 mg/L dose developed ultrastructural changes in the kidney glomeruli. No other effects were reported.

       Tardiff et al. (1980) exposed groups of 30 male and 30 female Charles River rats to 0, 10, 50, or 250 ppm barium (given as barium chloride) in drinking water for 90 days. A slight reduction in adrenal weights was seen in female rats with the 250 ppm (45.7 mg/kg/day) dose at 13 weeks, and no other adverse effects were observed in male rats with the 50 ppm (8.1 mg/kg/day) and the 250 ppm (38.1 mg/kg/day) doses at 8 weeks. No clear dose effect or dose duration effect was seen with the adrenal weight decrease; therefore, the clinical significance is uncertain.

 

3.1.3 Chronic Toxicity

 3.1.3.1 Human

       An epidemiology study conducted by Brenniman and Levy (1984) compared a human popula­tion ingesting barium levels of 2 to 10 mg/L in their drinking water to a population ingesting 0 to 0.2 mg/L.

Although significantly higher mortality rates from all cardiovascular diseases were observed with the higher barium level in the 65 and over age group, there were no significant individual dif­ferences in blood pressures, strokes, or heart and renal diseases within the two groups.

The average barium concentration for the mortality study was 7.3 mg/L, which corresponds to a dose of 0.20 mg/k­g/day assuming drinking water consumption of 2 L/day for a 70 kg human.

3.1.3.2 Animal

       A series of experiments were performed in which groups of 52 male and female Long-Evans rats and 42 male and female Swiss mice were exposed to 5 mg barium/L (given as barium acetate) in drinking water for their lifetime (Schroeder and Mitchener 1975a,b). The barium doses were about 0.25 and 0.825 mg/kg/day for rats and mice, respectively.

No adverse clinical effects were observed; however, blood pressure was not measured. A slight but significant reduction in longevity of treated male mice was noted when measured as the mean age at death of the last surviving 10% of animals. The overall average life span of the group, however, was about the same as the control group (EPA 1984, 1989).

        Perry et al. (1983) exposed 12 to 13 female weanling rats/group to 0, 1, 10, or 100 ppm barium (given as barium chloride) for up to 16 months. Average doses were calculated to be 0, 0.051, 0.51, and 5.1 mg/kg/day (EPA 1985). A clinically significant increase in average blood pressure was observed in the highest dose group; a slight but statistically significant increase was seen in the 10 ppm (0.51 mg/kg/day) dose group. The controlled diet, which restricted the intake of trace metals, calcium, and potassium, may have contributed to the effect.

 

3.1.4 Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity

        Information on developmental and reproductive toxicity in humans or animals following oral exposure was unavailable.

 3.1.5 Reference Dose

 3.1.5.1 Subchronic

ORAL RfDs:                          0.07 mg/kg/day (EPA 1995a)

         UNCERTAINTY FACTOR: 3

         NOAEL:                         0.21 mg/kg/day

          PRINCIPAL STUDIES:The same studies and comments apply to both the subchronic and chronic RfD derivations. See Sect. 3.1.5.2.

 3.1.5.2 Chronic

          ORAL RfDc:  0.07 mg/kg/day (EPA 1995b)

         UNCERTAINTY FACTOR: 3

         MODIFYING FACTOR:   1

         NOAEL:                    0.21 mg/kg/day

         CONFIDENCE:

               Study:                               Medium

               Data Base:                       Medium

         RfD:                                      Medium

         VERIFICATION DATE:        06/21/90

          PRINCIPAL STUDIES: Wones et al. (1990); Brenniman and Levy (1984).

 COMMENTS: The RfD values are based on a weight-of-evidence approach using subchronic to chronic human drinking water studies. The uncertainty factor accounts for protecting sensitive individuals and is reduced from the usual factor of 10 because the selected studies examined the population judged most at risk.

 

3.2 INHALATION EXPOSURES

 3.2.1 Acute Toxicity

 3.2.1.1 Human

          Barium carbonate dust has been reported to be a bronchial irritant. Barium oxide dust is considered a dermal and nasal irritant (Beliles 1994).

The effect of barium dusts on welders was investigated under simulated working conditions over a one-week time period (Zschiesche et al. 1992). Barium fume concentrations were 4.4 and 2.0 mg/m3 during welding with stick electrodes and flux cored wires, respectively. No adverse health effects on the welders were attributable to barium exposure, but there was a slight decrease in plasma potassium levels at the end of the work shift.

 3.2.1.2 Animal

          Information on the acute inhalation toxicity of barium in animals was not available.

 3.2.2 Subchronic Toxicity

 3.2.2.1 Human

          Industrial workers exposed to barium dust, usually in the form of barium sulfate or carbonate, often develop a benign pneumoconiosis referred to as Òbaritosis.Ó Because of the radiopacity of barium compounds, this condition can be specifically diagnosed radiologically.

After removal from the sources of exposure, baritosis is reversible in most cases. Baritosis results in a significantly higher incidence of hypertension, but no changes are usually seen in pulmonary function (Stokinger 1981, EPA 1995b).

3.2.2.2 Animal

          Male rats were exposed to 1.15 and 5.2 mg/m3 of barium carbonate dust for 4 hours/day for 6 months. The high dose animals developed increased arterial pressure; decreased body weight gain; decreased blood levels of hemoglobin, sugar, protein, cholinesterase and thrombocytes; increased blood levels of leukocytes, phosphorous and alkaline phosphatase; increased urine calcium; and peri­vascular and peribronchial sclerosis in the lungs. (EPA 1984, Tarasenko et al. 1977).

3.2.3 Chronic Toxicity

3.2.3.1 Human

          Baritosis and bronchial irritation have been reported in workers chronically exposed to barium containing dust (Beliles 1994).

3.2.3.2 Animal

          Information on the chronic inhalation toxicity of barium in animals was not available.

3.2.4 Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity

          Tarasenko et al. (1977) performed a series of experiments in rats designed to test for possible reproductive and developmental effects. Increased fetal mortality was observed following the mating of males exposed to barium carbonate (5.2 mg/m3 air) with untreated females.

Decreased sperm motility was observed in males treated with 22.6 mg/m3. The mating of females exposed to 13.4 mg/m3 for 4 months also resulted in increased fetal mortality and a general under develop­ment of the new­born pups. Ovarian follicle atresia was seen in female rats exposed to 3.1 mg/m3. No significant adverse effects were noted with the 1.15 mg/m3 concentration (EPA 1984).

 3.2.5 Reference Concentration/Dose

 3.2.5.1 Subchronic

 INHALATION RfCs:  0.005 mg/m3; 0.001 mg/kg/day (EPA 1995a)

         UNCERTAINTY FACTOR: 100

         NOEL:   0.8 mg Ba/m3 given 4 hr/day (EPA 1995a)

 PRINCIPAL STUDY:The same study and comments apply to the subchronic and chronic ...................... RfC. The study is described in Sect. 3.2.4.

3.2.5.2    Chronic

          INHALATION RfCc:  0.0005 mg/m3; 0.0001 mg/kg/day (EPA 1995a)

         UNCERTAINTY FACTOR: 1000

         NOEL:                                   0.8 mg Ba/m3 given 4 hr/day (EPA 1995a)

         PRINCIPAL STUDY:  Tarasenko et al. 1977

 COMMENTS: The dose of 1.15 mg BaCO3/m3 was given as the NOEL in the principal study, which is equivalent to 0.8 mg barium/m3 used as the basis for the RfC calculations. An inhalation risk assessment for barium is under review by an EPA work group (EPA, 1995b).

 3.3 OTHER ROUTES OF EXPOSURE

 3.3.1 Acute Toxicity

 3.3.1.1 Human

          Barium oxide dust is considered to be a dermal and nasal irritant (Beliles 1994).

 3.3.1.2 Animal

          A number of experiments have used intravenous and subcutaneous injections to measure lethal levels of soluble barium compounds. LD50 values for barium chloride, nitrate, and acetate were determined in two strains of mice by intravenous injection (Syed and Hosain 1972). The affected animals either died within one hour or survived the treatment.

The LD50 values obtained were 8.12, 8.49, and 11.32 mg barium/kg for the chloride, nitrate, and acetate, respectively, in Swiss-Webster mice, and 19.20, 20.10, and 23.31 mg barium/kg for the chloride, nitrate, and acetate, respectively, in ICR mice. Although the relative toxicity of the barium salts remained the same, there was an unexplained two-fold difference in the LD50 values between the two mice strains.

          The LDLo has been determined by subcutaneous injection in mice to be 10 mg/kg for the barium nitrate and chloride salts. The LDLo in rabbits was 55 mg/kg for the chloride and 96 mg/kg for the acetate salts.

The LDLo values vary widely with the route and test animal. For example, with barium chloride the LDLo value for oral administration to rabbits is 170 mg/kg, whereas the value for subcutaneous injection is 55 mg/kg. Subcutaneous injection in mice results in a value of 10 mg/kg, which is higher than the LD50 value for intravenous injection in the Swiss-Webster strain (Lewis and Sweet 1984).

 3.3.2 Subchronic Toxicity

          Information on the subchronic toxicity of barium in humans and animals was not available.

 3.3.3 Chronic Toxicity

          Information on the chronic toxicity of barium in humans and animals was not available.

 3.3.4 Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity

          Information on the developmental and reproductive toxicity of barium in humans and animals was not available.

 

3.4 TARGET ORGANS/CRITICAL EFFECTS

 3.4.1 Oral Exposures

 3.4.1.1 Primary target(s)

 1.Cardiovascular system: Subchronic to chronic symptoms include increased blood pressure and increased incidence of cardiovascular disease in humans. An acute overdose can result in cardiac irregularities. Convulsions and death from cardiac and respiratory failure can occur.

 2.Nervous system: Acute to subchronic symptoms include weak­ness, tremors, anxiety, and dyspnea. An acute over­dose can result in convulsions and death from cardiac and respiratory failure.

3.4.1.2 Other targets:

 Gastrointestinal system: Acute to subchronic symptoms include excess salivation, vomiting, and diarrhea in humans.

 3.4.2 Inhalation Exposures

3.4.2.1 Primary target(s)

 1. Cardiovascular system: Symptoms include increased blood pressure in humans.

 2. Reproduction and development: Subchronic exposure of rats resulted in decreased sperm motility and ovarian follicle atresia. Increased fetal mortality and underdevelopment of newborn pups were also reported.

 3.4.2.2 Other target(s)

 Lungs: Subchronic to chronic exposure in humans results in a pneumoconiosis known as ÒbaritosisÓ that usually does not adversely affect pulmonary function.

 

 4. CARCINOGENICITY

 4.1 ORAL EXPOSURES

 4.1.1 Human

Information on the carcinogenicity of barium in humans was not available.

4.1.2 Animal

          No significant differences in tumor incidence were found in either rats or mice in the lifetime exposure experiments of Schroeder and Mitchener (1975a,b), as described in Sect. 3.1.3.2.

 4.2    INHALATION EXPOSURES

          Information on the carcinogenicity of barium in humans and animals was not available.

 4.3 OTHER ROUTES OF EXPOSURE

          Information on the carcinogenicity of barium in humans and animals was not available.

 4.4 EPA WEIGHT-OF-EVIDENCE CLASSIFICATION

          Barium has not been evaluated by the EPA for evidence of human carcinogenic potential (EPA 1995b).

 4.5 CARCINOGENICITY SLOPE FACTORS

          Data are insufficient to calculate a slope factor for barium.

 

5. REFERENCES

 Arena, J. M. 1979. Poisoning - Toxicology - Symptoms - Treatments. Charles C. Thomas, Publisher, Springfield, Ill. pp. 173–179.

 Beliles, R. P. 1994. The Metals. In: Patty's Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology, 4th ed., G.D. Clayton and F. E. Clayton, eds. John Wiley & Sons, New York. pp. 1925–1929.

 Brenniman, G. R. and P. S. Levy. 1984. High barium levels in public drinking water and its association with elevated blood pressure. In: Advances in Modern Toxicology IX, E. J. Calabrese, Ed. Princeton Scientific Publications, Princeton, NJ. pp. 231–249.

EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency). 1984. Health Effects Assessment for Barium. Prepared by the Office of Health and Environmental Assessment, Environmental Criteria and Assessment Office, Cincinnati, OH, for the Office of Emergency and Remedial Response, Washington, D.C.

 EPA. 1985. Drinking Water Health Effects Criteria Document on Barium. NTIS PB 86-118031. Prepared by the Office of Health and Environmental Assessment, Environmental Criteria And Assessment Office, Cincinnati, OH for the Office of Drinking Water, Washington, D.C.

 EPA. 1989. Reportable Quantity Document for Barium and Compounds. Prepared by the Office of Health and Environmental Assessment, Environmental Criteria and Assessment Office, Cincinnati, OH, for the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Washington, D.C.

EPA. 1995a. Health Effects Assessment Summary Tables. Annual FY-95. Prepared by the Office of Health and Environmental Assessment, Environmental Criteria and Assessment Office, Cincinnati, OH, for the Office of Emergency and Remedial Response, Washington D.C.

EPA. 1995b. Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS). Health Risk Assessment for Barium. On line. (Verification date 6/21/90.) Office of Health and Environmental Assessment, Environmental Criteria and Assessment Office, Cincinnati, OH. Retrieved 4/5/95.

 Johnson, C. H. and V. J. VanTassell. 1991. Acute barium poisoning with respiratory failure and rhabdomyolysis. Ann. Emer. Med. 20:1138–1142.

Lewis, R. J. and D. V. Sweet, eds. 1984. Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances, Vol. 1. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH.

 Machata, G. 1988. Barium. In: Handbook on Toxicity of Inorganic Compounds, H. G. Seiler and H. Sigel, eds., Marcel Dekker, Inc. pp. 97–101.

McCauley, P. T. and I. S. Washington. 1983. Barium bioavailability as the chloride, sulfate or car­bonate salt in the rat. Drug Chem. Toxicol. 6(2):209–217.

 McCauley, P. T., B. H. Douglas, R. D. Laurie, and R. J. Bull. 1985. Investigations into the effect of drinking water barium on rats. Environ. Health Perspect. Vol. IX, E. J. Calabrese, ed. Princeton Scien­tific Publications, Princeton, NJ. pp.197–210.

 National Academy of Sciences. 1977. Drinking Water and Health. Safe Drinking Water Committee, Advisory Center on Toxicology, Assembly of Life Sciences, National Research Council. Washington, D.C. pp 211–212.

 Newton, D., G. E. Harrison, C. Kang, and A. J. Warner. 1991. Metabolism of injected barium in sex healthy men. Health Physics 61:191–201.

 Penington, G. R. 1993. Severe complications following a Òbarium swallowÓ investigation for dysphagia. Med. J. Aust. 159:764–765.

 Perry, H. M., S. J. Kopp, M. W. Erlanger, and E. F. Perry. 1983. Cardiovascular effects of chronic barium ingestion. In: Trace Substances in Environmental Health, XVII, D. D. Hemphill, ed. Proc. Univ. Missouri's 17th Ann. Conf. on Trace Substances in Environmental Health. University of Missouri Press, Columbia, MO. pp. 155–164.

 Schroeder, H. and M. Mitchener. 1975a. Life-term studies in rats: Effects of aluminum, barium, beryl­lium and tungsten. J. Nutr. 105:421–427.

Schroeder, H. and M. Mitchener. 1975b. Life-term effects of mercury, methyl mercury and nine other trace metals on mice. J. Nutr. 105: 452–458.

 Stokinger, H. E. 1981. The Metals. In: Patty's Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology, 3rd ed., G.D. Clayton and F.E. Clayton, eds. John Wiley & Sons, New York. pp. 1531–1537.

 Syed, I. B. and F. Hosain. 1972. Determination of LD50 of Barium Chloride and Allied Agents. Toxicol. Appl. Pharm. 22:150–152.

 Tarasenko, M, O. Promin, and A. Silayev. 1977. Barium compounds as industrial poisons (an experi­mental study). J. Hyg. Epidem. Microbiol. Immunol. 21:361–373.

Tardiff, R. G., M. Robinson, and N. S. Ulmer. 1980. Subchronic oral toxicity of barium chloride in rats. J. Environ. Pathol. Toxicol. 4(5-6):267–276.

 Weast, R. C., J. A. Melvin, and W. H. Beyer (ed). 1987. CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, FL, pp. B-9.

 Wones, R. G., B. L. Stadler, and L. A. Frohman. 1990. Lack of effect of drinking water barium on cardiovascular risk factor. Environ. Health Perspect. 85:1–13.

Zschiesche, W., K.-H. Schaller, and D. Weltle. 1992. Exposure to soluble barium compounds: an interventional study in arc welders. Int. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health 64:13–23.

 

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