ContaminantDB: Barium

Identification Taxonomy Biological Properties Physical Properties Toxicity Profile Spectra Concentrations Links References Targets (22)XML

Record Information

Version

1.0

Creation Date

2009-03-06 18:58:05 UTC

Update Date

2026-05-14 19:22:05 UTC

Accession Number

CHEM000100

Identification

Common Name

Barium

Class

Small Molecule

Description

Barium is a dense alkaline earth metal that occurs in nature as a divalent cation in combination with other elements. Physiologically, it exists as an ion in the body. In addition to its natural presence in the Earth's crust, and therefore its natural occurrence in most surface waters, barium is also released to the environment via industrial emissions. The residence time of barium in the atmosphere may be up to several days. Barium sulfate exists as a white orthorhombic powder or crystals. Barite, the mineral from which barium sulfate is produced, is a moderately soft crystalline white opaque to transparent mineral. The most important impurities are iron(III) oxide, aluminium oxide, silica, and strontium sulfate.Barium sulfate has a low toxicity and relatively high density of about 4.5 g*cm-3 (and thus opacity to X-rays). For this reason it is used as a radiocontrast agent in X-ray imaging of the digestive system (barium meals and barium enemas). Lithopone, a pigment that contains barium sulfate and zinc sulfide, is a permanent white that has good covering power, and does not darken when exposed to sulfides. (Wikipedia). Barium hydroxide is strongly alkaline and therefore corrosive. Barium nitrate caused mild skin irritation and severe eye irritation in rabbits. The lack of reports of skin or eye irritation in humans, despite its widespread use, suggests that barium sulfate, often used as a contrast medium, is not a strong irritant. Useful information on the sensitization potential of barium compounds was not identified. Oral intake from drinking water and food is the most prevalent route of exposure to barium compounds for the general population. For the occupational environment, data from industry in the United Kingdom and predictions made using the Estimation and Assessment of Substance Exposure (EASE) model suggest that exposures can be controlled to less than 10 mg/m3 8 hours time weighted average (total inhalable dust). In some situations, control will be to levels significantly below this value. Short term exposures may be higher than 10 mg/m3 for some tasks.The critical end points in humans for toxicity resulting from exposure to barium and barium compounds appear to be hypertension and renal function. Using a no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) in humans of 0.21 mg barium/kg body weight per day, a tolerable intake value of 0.02 mg/kg body weight per day for barium and barium compounds has been developed in this document.Dissolved barium in aquatic environments may represent a risk to aquatic organisms such as daphnids, but it is apparently of lesser risk to fish and aquatic plants, although data are limited. No adverse effects have been reported in ecological assessments of terrestrial plants or wildlife, although some plants are known to bioaccumulate barium from the soil.(Concise international chemical assessment document 33; http://www.inchem.org/documents/cicads/cicads/cicad33.htm).

Contaminant Sources

Clean Air Act Chemicals
FooDB Chemicals
HMDB Contaminants - Urine
HPV EPA Chemicals
T3DB toxins

Contaminant Type

Barium Compound
Food Toxin
Human Neurotoxin
Industrial/Workplace Toxin
Inorganic Compound
Metabolite
Metal
Natural Compound

Chemical Structure

MOL SDF PDB SMILES InChI

Synonyms

Value	Source
Ba(2+)	ChEBI
Ba2+	ChEBI
BARIUM ion	ChEBI
Barium(2+)	Kegg
Ba	HMDB
Barium	ChEBI

Chemical Formula

Average Molecular Mass

137.327 g/mol

Monoisotopic Mass

137.905 g/mol

CAS Registry Number

7440-39-3

IUPAC Name

barium

Traditional Name

barium(2+) ion

SMILES

[Ba++]

InChI Identifier

InChI=1S/Ba/q+2

InChI Key

XDFCIPNJCBUZJN-UHFFFAOYSA-N

Chemical Taxonomy

Description

belongs to the class of inorganic compounds known as homogeneous alkaline earth metal compounds. These are inorganic compounds containing only metal atoms,with the largest atom being a alkaline earth metal atom.

Kingdom

Inorganic compounds

Super Class

Homogeneous metal compounds

Class

Homogeneous alkaline earth metal compounds

Sub Class

Not Available

Direct Parent

Homogeneous alkaline earth metal compounds

Alternative Parents

Not Available

Substituents

Homogeneous alkaline earth metal

Molecular Framework

Not Available

External Descriptors

monoatomic dication (CHEBI:37136 )
barium cation (CHEBI:37136 )
divalent metal cation (CHEBI:37136 )
a cation (BA+2 )

Biological Properties

Status

Detected and Not Quantified

Origin

Exogenous

Cellular Locations

Cytoplasm
Extracellular

Biofluid Locations

Not Available

Tissue Locations

Not Available

Pathways

Not Available

Applications

Not Available

Biological Roles

Not Available

Chemical Roles

Not Available

Physical Properties

State

Solid

Appearance

Silvery white metal.

Experimental Properties

Property	Value
Melting Point	710°C
Boiling Point	Not Available
Solubility	Not Available

Predicted Properties

Property	Value	Source
logP	-0.2	ChemAxon
Physiological Charge	2	ChemAxon
Hydrogen Acceptor Count	0	ChemAxon
Hydrogen Donor Count	0	ChemAxon
Polar Surface Area	0 Å²	ChemAxon
Rotatable Bond Count	0	ChemAxon
Refractivity	0 m³·mol⁻¹	ChemAxon
Polarizability	1.78 Å³	ChemAxon
Number of Rings	0	ChemAxon
Bioavailability	1	ChemAxon
Rule of Five	Yes	ChemAxon
Ghose Filter	No	ChemAxon
Veber's Rule	Yes	ChemAxon
MDDR-like Rule	No	ChemAxon

Spectra

Not Available

Toxicity Profile

Route of Exposure

Oral (2) ; inhalation (2)

Mechanism of Toxicity

Barium is a competitive potassium channel antagonist that blocks the passive efflux of intracellular potassium, resulting in a shift of potassium from extracellular to intracellular compartments. The intracellular translocation of potassium results in a decreased resting membrane potential, making the muscle fibers electrically unexcitable and causing paralysis. (2)

Metabolism

Barium compounds are absorbed via ingestion and inhalation. Barium is principally found in the bone, while small amounts exists in the muscle, adipose tissue, skin, and connective tissue. Barium is not metabolized, but may be transported and incorporated into complexes or tissues. Barium is excreted in the urine and faeces. (2)

Toxicity Values

Not Available

Lethal Dose

1 to 15 grams for an adult human (barium salts). (4)

Carcinogenicity (IARC Classification)

No indication of carcinogenicity to humans (not listed by IARC).

Uses/Sources

Barium compounds are used by the oil and gas industries to make drilling muds, and can also be used in the production of paint, bricks, ceramics, glass, and rubber. They are also often used in pyrotechnics, as they emit a green light when burned. (2, 3)

Minimum Risk Level

Intermediate Oral: 0.2 mg/kg/day (Barium salts) (1) Chronic Oral: 0.2 mg/kg/day (Barium salts) (1)

Health Effects

The health effects of the different barium compounds depend on how well the compound dissolves in water or the stomach contents. At low doses, barium acts as a muscle stimulant, while higher doses affect the nervous system, causing cardiac irregularities, tremors, weakness, anxiety, dyspnea, paralysisand possibly death. Barium may also cause gastrointestinal disturbances, damage the kidneys and cause decreases in body weight. (2)

Symptoms

Ingesting excess barium may cause vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, difficulties in breathing, increased or decreased blood pressure, numbness around the face, and muscle weakness. High levels may result in changes in heart rhythm or paralysis and possibly death. (2)

Treatment

Intravenous infusion of potassium often relieves many of the symptoms of barium toxicity. (2)

Concentrations

Not Available

External Links

DrugBank ID

Not Available

HMDB ID

HMDB0004142

FooDB ID

FDB003764

Phenol Explorer ID