TOXICOLOGICAL PROFILE FOR BARIUM AND COMPOUNDS ...

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2. HEALTH EFFECTS
by causing precipitation of an insoluble form of barium (barium sulfate)
(Dreisbach and Robertson 1987; Haddad and Winchester 1988). Intravenous
administration of sulfate salts should be avoided because barium precipitate
in the kidneys will cause renal failure (Dreisbach and Robertson 1987).
Removal of barium from the bloodstream may be facilitated by infusing with
saline and inducing saline diuresis (Dreisbach and Robertson 1987).
Hypokalemia is commonly seen in cases of acute barium toxicity and may
be responsible for some of the symptoms of barium poisoning (Proctor et al.
1988). Plasma potassium should be monitored and hypokalemia may be relieved
by intravenous infusion of potassium (Dreisbach and Robertson 1987; Haddad and
Winchester 1990; Proctor et al. 1988).
2.9 ADEQUACY OF THE DATABASE
Section 104(i)(5) of CERCLA as amended directs the Administrator of
ATSDR (in consultation with the Administrator of EPA and agencies and programs
of the Public Health Service) to assess whether adequate information on the
health effects of barium is available. Where adequate information is not
available, ATSDR, in conjunction with the National Toxicology Program (NTP),
is required to assure the initiation of a program of research designed to
determine the health effects (and techniques for developing methods to
determine such health effects) of barium.
The following categories of possible data needs have been identified by
a joint team of scientists from ATSDR, NTP, and EPA. They are defined as
substance-specific informational needs that, if met, would reduce or eliminate
the uncertainties of human health assessment. In the future, the identified
data needs will be evaluated and prioritized, and a substance-specific
research agenda will be proposed.
2.9.1 Existing Information on Health Effects of Barium
The existing data on health effects of inhalation, oral, and dermal
exposure of humans and animals to barium are summarized in Figure 2-2. The
purpose of this figure is to illustrate the existing information concerning
the health effects of barium. Each dot in the figure indicates that one or
more studies provide information associated with that particular effect. The
dot does not imply anything about the quality of the study or studies. Gaps
in this figure should not be interpreted as "data needs" information.
There is little information regarding health effects in humans following
inhalation, oral, or dermal exposure to barium (Figure 2-2). Inhalation
studies are limited to several case reports of individuals exposed acutely or.
chronically through occupational exposure (Doig 1976; Essing et al. 1976;
Seaton et al. 1986; Shankle and Keane 1988). Oral studies are limited to a
number of case reports of individuals exposed through acute ingestion (Das and