Barium compounds are widely used in the car, paint and glass industries.
Toxicity
Many barium salts are insoluble and relatively harmless if ingested. However, the water soluble carbonate and chloride are highly poisonous. A benign pneumoconiosis (baritosis) may occur from the inhalation of dust from crushing barium containing ores. Symptoms of acute poisoning include abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhoea and in addition cardiotoxicity may occur.
Laboratory Indices of Exposure
Barium can be measured in plasma/serum or urine.
References:
Schramel P. In ‘Analyses of Hazardous Substances in Biological Materials’, eds Angerer J, Schaller KH, VCH, Weinheim, 1988, Vol. 2, pp 69-79
Stokinger HE Chapter 29 – Metals, in Patty’s Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology, 3rd Revised Edition, Volume 2A. Eds Clayton GD and Clayton FE. Wiley Interscience, 1981.