Barium and Potential Exposure Risks

Barium is described by the Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (ATSDR) as a silvery-white metal which exists in nature only in ores containing mixtures of elements. It combines with other chemicals such as sulfur or carbon and oxygen to form barium compounds.

The agency goes on to state that barium compounds are used by the oil and gas industries to make drilling muds. Drilling muds make it easier to drill through rock by keeping the drill bit lubricated. Barium compounds are also used to make paint, bricks, ceramics, glass and rubber.

Potential routes of exposure include:
• Inhalation – Generally limited to occupational exposure
• Oral – Primary route of exposure for the general population (some foods, such as Brazil nuts, seaweed, fish and certain plants, may contain high amounts of barium).
• Dermal – Minor route of exposure

Ways people could be exposed to barium listed by ATSDR include:
• Ingesting small amounts present in food and water or breathing air containing very low levels of barium
• Living in areas with unusually high natural levels of barium in the drinking water
• Working in a job that involves barium production or use
• Living or working near waste sites where barium has been disposed of

There are number of potential health effects due to exposure which are shown on the screen. For example, inhaling barium can irritate the nose, throat and lungs and direct contact can irritate and burn the skin or eyes. Barium may damage the kidneys and exposure to high levels may result in barium poisoning which can have serious consequences.

To protect workers and the public, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has set a limit for barium in drinking water. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) for barium compounds and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has set Recommended Exposure Limits (RELs).

These are just a few things to know about barium, barium compounds and potential exposure risks. To learn more about this or other industrial hygiene, environmental, health or safety issues, please visit the websites shown on below.

[OctoPlexAI--SMBs]

Simple. Informative. To the point. Thank you.

[manuelmunoz]

Very abundant right for mass machine build up

[ElijahPerrin]

Barium also is used in medical diagnostic imaging.

[gibbacool]

Then why the hell do they make us swallow one cup of that white barium for exams ??? At least here in Japan …. Is it safe ?

[manuelmunoz]

With barium we can compose infinite substances for machine build up or industrial or defence industry good as nature

[Reelworthy]

why does my doctor want me to drink barium if it’s something that we should avoid exposure to? CAT scan anyone? I honestly don’t know.

[mrfreckles]

This sounds like some powerful stuff why is it use for ct scans in the medical field if they want to light up your insides just swallow a small flash light 😂 and hope it comes out the other end

[manuelmunoz]

Barium is found in all machine junk yard and new like helicopters throw away liquid Barium I noticed