TOXICOLOGICAL PROFILE FOR BARIUM AND COMPOUNDS ...

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2. HEALTH EFFECTS
various barium compounds in the drinking water showed distribution to the
heart > eye > skeletal muscle > kidney > blood > liver. The skeleton was not
examined (McCauley and Washington 1983).
2.3.2.3 Dermal Exposure
No studies were located regarding distribution of barium in humans or
animals after dermal exposure.
2.3.3 Metabolism
Barium is not metabolized in the body, but it may be metabolically
transported or incorporated into complexes or tissues.
2.3.4 Excretion
2.3.4.1 Inhalation Exposure
No studies have been located regarding excretion of barium following
inhalation exposure in humans. In dogs that inhaled radiolabeled barium
chloride, less than 1% of the initial body burden remained in the body after
5 days. Fecal excretion was about twice that of urinary excretion (Cuddihy
and Griffith 1972).
2.3.4.2 Oral Exposure
Barium taken by mouth is poorly absorbed; therefore, most of the dose is
excreted in the feces. Case studies have shown that excretion of oral doses
of humans is about 3% in the urine, and most of the remainder in the feces
(Tipton et al. 1966).
Dogs that received barium by gavage excreted most of the dose within a
few days and less than 3% of the initial body burden remained in the body
after 2 weeks (Cuddihy and Griffith 1972).
2.3.4.3 Dermal Exposure
No studies were located regarding excretion of barium in humans or
animals after dermal exposure.
2.3.4.4 Other Routes of Exposure
Humans who have had intravenous injections of barium excrete barium in
the feces. A man who was injected with barium intravenously excreted most of
the dose in the feces (Newton et al. 1977). Another case study showed that
about 9% of an intravenous dose of barium was excreted in the urine, and about
84% in the feces (Harrison et al. 1967).