Barium (Ba) is classified as a non-essential element, meaning that it does not play a requisite role in the physiological processes of living organisms, but it poses a significant health risk to them. Plants that grow in Ba-rich soils, particularly near barite outcrops or mining waste, often accumulate high levels of Ba. Excess Ba in plant cells can lead to the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which contributes to oxidative stress. Typically, nitric oxide (NO) can help alleviate heavy metal stress; however, under certain conditions, elevated levels of superoxide and nitric oxide may result in nitrosative and nitrative stress. This study investigated whether exposing barley plants to barium acetate (300 μM and 600 μM) triggers a nitro-oxidative response in spring barley plants. The molecular and biochemical analyses revealed fluctuations in the gene expression and activity of antioxidant enzymes and a steady rise in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the leaves. Lower Ba concentrations and shorter exposures increased NO levels, while higher concentrations and more prolonged exposure reduced them, affecting nitrogen metabolism. These findings highlight the toxicological risks posed by Ba, especially for cultivated plants, and underscore the need for further research on its impact on plant physiology and the potential risks to human health.

Animal studies suggest cardiovascular systems may be primary targets for barium toxicity. This study aims to examine longitudinal associations of prenatal and early childhood barium exposure with cardiometabolic risk (CMR) in preschoolers.

We determined serum or plasma barium concentrations during 3 trimesters, delivery, and early childhood (5 years) from 2291 mother-child dyads within the Ma'anshan Birth Cohort. CMR scores were calculated by summing standardized z scores for glucose, insulin, triglycerides, waist circumference, mean of blood pressure, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol among 5-year-old children. We employed multiple linear regression and multiple informant models to investigate whole pregnancy and stage-specific associations of barium exposure with CMR scores and individual components and the modifying effects of sex. The ranges of log10-transformed barium from the first trimester to early childhood were 3.39 to 4.61 ng/L. Barium during the whole pregnancy showed positive associations with CMR scores, glucose, and triglycerides and negative association with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. These significant relationships of barium with CMR scores were mainly manifested in the second and third trimesters. Positive associations were observed between barium during the second and third trimesters and CMR scores, glucose, triglycerides, and negatively associated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol among boys. In girls, positive associations of barium during the third trimester with CMR scores, glucose, and triglycerides and a negative association with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were detected.

Barium exposure during pregnancy, especially during the second and third trimesters, may increase CMR in preschoolers. Boys are more vulnerable than girls. These findings support the need for reductions in barium exposure during pregnancy.

A growing body of research has begun to link exposure to environmental contaminants, such as heavy metals, with a variety of negative health outcomes. In this paper, we sought to review the current research describing the impact of certain common contaminant metals on cardiovascular (CV) health. We reviewed ten metals: lead, barium, nickel, chromium, cadmium, arsenic, mercury, selenium, zinc, and copper. After a literature review, we briefly summarized the routes of environmental exposure, pathophysiological mechanisms, CV health impacts, and exposure prevention and/or mitigation strategies for each metal. The resulting article discloses a broad spectrum of pathological significance, from relatively benign substances with little to no described effects on CV health, such as chromium and selenium, to substances with a wide-ranging and relatively severe spectrum of CV pathologies, such as arsenic, cadmium, and lead. It is our hope that this article will provide clinicians with a practical overview of the impact of these common environmental contaminants on CV health as well as highlight areas that require further investigation to better understand how these metals impact the incidence and progression of CV diseases.

Some trace elements are established nephrotoxicants, yet their associations with kidney function remain understudied in the context of pregnancy, a time of substantial change in kidney physiology and function. We aimed to estimate the individual and joint associations of trace element mixtures with maternal kidney function during the 1st trimester of pregnancy (mean 9.7 gestational weeks). 1040 women from Project Viva contributed blood samples which were assessed for erythrocyte non-essential [arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), cesium (Cs), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb)] and essential [barium (Ba), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), selenium (Se), and Zinc (Zn)] trace elements, and plasma creatinine for kidney function. We estimated glomerular filtration rate using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (eGFRCKD-EPI) equation without race-adjustment factors. We examined associations of eGFRCKD-EPI with individual trace elements using multivariable linear regression and their mixtures using quantile-based g-computation, adjusting for sociodemographics, pregnancy characteristics, and diet. Participants in our study were predominantly White (75%), college graduates (72%), and had household income >$70,000/year (63%). After adjusting for covariates, higher Pb (β -3.51 ml/min/1.73 m2; 95% CI -5.83, -1.18) concentrations were associated with lower eGFRCKD-EPI, while higher Mg (β 10.53 ml/min/1.73 m2; 95% CI 5.35, 15.71), Se (β 5.56 ml/min/1.73 m2; 95% CI 0.82, 10.31), and Zn (β 5.88 ml/min/1.73 m2; 95% CI 0.51, 11.26) concentrations were associated with higher eGFRCKD-EPI. In mixture analyses, higher non-essential trace elements mixture concentration was associated with reduced eGFRCKD-EPI (Ψ -1.03 ml/min/1.73 m2; 95% CI: 1.92, -0.14). Conversely, higher essential trace elements mixture concentration was associated with higher eGFR (Ψ 1.42; 95% CI: 0.48, 2.37). Exposure to trace elements in early pregnancy may influence women's kidney function although reverse causation cannot be eliminated in this cross-sectional analysis. These findings have important implications for long-term cardiovascular and postpartum kidney health that warrant additional studies.

Barium (Ba) is ubiquitous in the environment, and humans are primarily exposed to it through ingestion of drinking water. Previous studies focused on the exposure to lead, cadmium, and arsenic, but have not focused on exposure to Ba. Recent studies found a significant association between Ba exposure and elevated blood pressure in pregnant women and adults. However, there are no studies regarding the effect of Ba exposure on blood pressure in children and adolescents, and the potential biological mechanisms remain unclear. We evaluated the associations between urinary Ba and systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and pulse pressure (PP) among 8- to 17-year-old participants (n = 3707) of the 2003-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Furthermore, the potential roles of inflammation in these associations were explored. Weighted linear regression was used to analyze the association between urinary Ba and blood pressure, and mediation analyses were used to estimate the potential role of white blood cell count (WBC) in these associations. Quantile g-computation models were used to explore the effect of co-exposure to Ba and other metals on blood pressure. After adjusting for covariates, a two-fold increase in urinary Ba concentration was associated with a 0.41 (95% CI 0.12, 0.70) mmHg increase in SBP, a 1.04 (95% CI 0.55, 1.53) mmHg increase in PP, but a -0.63 (95% CI -1.04, -0.22) mmHg decrease in DBP. WBC significantly mediated 6% of the association between urinary Ba and SBP. Quantile g-computation models suggested that urinary Ba was the main contributor to the elevation of SBP and PP in the urinary metal mixture. Our findings revealed that exposure to Ba was associated with elevated SBP and PP among children and adolescents. Inflammation may play an important role in the associations of Ba exposure with SBP.

Heavy metals are well known to be associated with cancer outcomes, but its association with obesity and cardiometabolic risk outcomes requires further study.

Adult data from the National Health and Examination Survey (NHANES Continuous 1999-2016, n = 12,636 to 32,012) with data for blood or urinary metals concentrations and body mass index were used. The study aim was twofold: (1) to determine the association between heavy metals and obesity and (2) to examine the influence of heavy metals on the relationship between obesity and hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and dyslipidemia. Logistic regression was used to examine the main effects and interaction effects of metals and obesity for the odds of prevalent hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and dyslipidemia. Models were adjusted for age, gender, ethnicity, smoking status, physical active status, and poverty-income ratio, with additional adjustment for creatinine in models with the urinary measures of heavy metals. High-low concentration categories were defined by grouping metal quintiles with the most similar associations with obesity.

Blood lead had a negative linear association with obesity (odds ratio (OR)  = 0.42, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.37-0.47). In those with obesity, high blood lead was associated with lower risk of prevalent dyslipidemia, while no association was found in those without obesity. The study observed a curvilinear relationship between urinary antimony and obesity with the moderate group having the highest odds of obesity (OR = 1.36, 1.16-1.59). However, the relationship between urinary antimony and prevalent hypertension and dyslipidemia risk was linear, positive, and independent of obesity. While not associated with prevalent obesity risk, high urinary uranium was associated with 30% (P=0.01) higher odds for prevalent type 2 diabetes.

The impact of environmental factors on obesity and health may be complex, and this study reinforces the heterogeneous relationship between various metals, obesity, and obesity-related metabolic diseases even at levels observed in the general population.

Water is the most important nutrient for rangeland livestock. However, competition with municipalities, industry, and other water users often results in grazing livestock being forced to use water supplies that are less than perfect. Surface water in western rangleands are often contaminated by mineral extraction, irrigation runoff and other human activities. Mineral contaminants in drinking water are additive with similar contaminants in feedstuffs. The goal of this article is to provide producers and veterinarians with the basic background to make informed decisions about whether a given water supply is "safe" for livestock.

Barium (Ba) is one of the environmental pollutant metals that incite deleterious effects on human health. The present study investigated the effects of exposure to different doses of barium chloride (BaCl₂ ) on heart and lung of Wistar rats. Rats were exposed to BaCl₂ at 150, 300, and 600 mg/L for seven consecutive days. Results indicated that exposure to Ba caused heart and lung damage evidenced by significant increase in plasma lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase activities, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels, while high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol level decreased when compared with control. Moreover, BaCl₂ significantly decreased superoxide dismutase, catalase, and acetylcholinesterase activities as well as glutathione level in heart and lung of the treated rats. Furthermore, the dose-dependent increase in cardiac and lung lipid peroxidation, advanced oxidative protein product and nitric oxide levels were accompanied by marked increase in metallothionein in the BaCl₂ -treated rats. Administration of BaCl₂ altered hematological parameters and significantly increased concentrations of interleukin-6 in the treated rats. Histology analysis showed significant alteration in the heart and lung tissues of Ba-treated rats. In conclusion, BaCl₂ -induced heart and lung damages via disruption of antioxidant defense systems, and activation of inflammatory mediators and alteration in hematological parameters in rats.

Chromium (Cr) pollution caused by wastewater from tanneries is a worldwide environmental problem. To develop a countermeasure, we performed a comprehensive study using Hazaribagh, the tannery area in Dhaka City, Bangladesh, as a model. Our environmental monitoring indicated that the soluble form of Cr, but not barium or arsenic, in Buriganga River is derived from Hazaribagh. Our chemical analysis next showed that Cr, the primary pollutant in canal water at Hazaribagh, consisted of ≤0.7 μM hexavalent Cr [Cr(VI)] and ≤1705 μM trivalent Cr [Cr(III)]. Our biological study then showed that coexposure to Cr(VI) and Cr(III) at possible ratios in canal water at Hazaribagh synergistically promotes transforming activity of human non-tumorigenic HaCaT keratinocytes with activated MEK/ERK and AKT. Our environmental engineering study finally indicated that a magnesium and iron-based hydrotalcite-like compound (MF-HT), our original depurative, can maximally adsorb 9.0 mg/g Cr(VI) and 1041 mg/g Cr(III). Our results suggested the importance of removal of Cr(III) as well as Cr(VI) by showing that Cr(III), which is generally recognized as a chemical with low toxicity, synergistically promoted carcinogenicity of a low level of Cr(VI). Therefore, we propose the use of our original high-efficient and low-cost depurative as a countermeasure to address the worldwide problem of environmental Cr pollution.

The relationship between population intakes of alkaline-earth elements (AEEs) and hypertension risk remains under discussion. Hair AEE concentrations can indicate their intake levels into human body. Thus, we aimed to investigate an association of hair AEE concentrations with hypertension risk, and the potential effect of dietary habit on this association. We recruited 398 housewives [163 subjects with hypertension (case group) and 235 subjects without hypertension (control group)] in Shanxi Province of north China. The scalp hair grown in the recent 2 years of each subject was collected and analyzed for the four concerned AEEs [i.e. calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), strontium (Sr), and barium (Ba)]. Our study results revealed that median concentrations (μg/g hair) of hair AEEs in the case group were systematically lower than those in control group [i.e. 701 vs. 1271 of Ca, 55.2 vs. 88.3 of Mg, 4.60 vs. 10.4 of Sr, and 1.02 vs. 1.68 of Ba]. Lower levels of the four individual AEEs of hair were associated with an increased presence of hypertension, respectively. Moreover, hair AEE concentrations were all positively correlated with the ingestion frequencies of meat, eggs, fresh vegetables, and fruits, while negatively with that of salted vegetables. A high ingestion frequency of fresh vegetables was associated with a lower prevalence of hypertension with or without adjusting confounders, while salted vegetables revealed a reverse tend. It was concluded that low hair AEEs, as markers of their long-term dietary intake, were associated with the presence of hypertension in a rural Chinese women.

Several metals including barium (Ba) known as environmental pollutants provoke deleterious effects on human health. The present work pertains to the potential ability of selenium (Se) and/or vitamin C, used as nutritional supplements, to alleviate the toxic effects induced by barium chloride (BaCl₂) in the heart of adult rats. Animals were randomly divided into seven groups of six each: group 1, serving as negative controls, received distilled water; group 2 received in their drinking water BaCl₂ (67 ppm); group 3 received both Ba and Se (sodium selenite 0.5 mg kg^-1 of diet); group 4 received both Ba and vitamin C (200 mg kg^-1 bodyweight) via force feeding; group 5 received Ba, Se, and vitamin C; and groups 6 and 7, serving as positive controls, received either Se or vitamin C for 21 days. The exposure of rats to BaCl₂ caused cardiotoxicity as monitored by an increase in malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide, and advanced oxidation protein product levels, a decrease in Na⁺-K⁺ adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase), Mg²⁺ ATPase, and acetylcholinesterase activities and in antioxidant defense system (catalase, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione, and nonprotein thiols). Plasma lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase activities, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels increased, while high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol level decreased. Coadministration of Se and/or vitamin C restored the parameters indicated above to near control values. The histopathological findings confirmed the biochemical results. Se and vitamin C may be a promising therapeutic strategy for Ba-induced heart injury.

Aluminum (Al) is the most abundant metal in the earth's crust. Al accumulates in erythrocyte and causes toxicity on erythrocyte membrane. The dysfunction of erythrocyte membrane is a potential risk to hypertension. The high Al content in plasma was associated with hypertension. To investigate the effect of AlCl3 on blood pressure and the function of erythrocyte membrane, the rats were intragastrically exposed to 0, 64(1/20 LD50), 128(1/10 LD50), and 256(1/5 LD50) mg/kg body weight AlCl3 in double distilled water for 120 days, respectively. Then, we determined the systolic and mean arterial blood pressures of rats, the osmotic fragility, the percentage of membrane proteins, the activities of Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase, Mg(2+)-ATPase, Ca(2+)-ATPase, catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-pX), and malondialdehyde (MDA) content of the erythrocyte membrane in this experiment. The results showed that AlCl3 elevated the systolic and mean arterial blood pressure of rats, increased the osmotic fragility, decreased the percentage of membrane protein, inhibited the activities of Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase, Mg(2+)-ATPase, Ca(2+)-ATPase, CAT, SOD and GSH-pX, and increased the MDA content of erythrocyte membrane. These results indicate that AlCl3 may induce hypertension by disturbing the function of erythrocyte membrane.

There is an increasing public awareness of the relatively new and expanded industrial barium uses which are potential sources of human exposure (e.g., a shale gas development that causes an increased awareness of environmental exposures to barium). However, absorption of barium in exposed humans and a full spectrum of its health effects, especially among chronically exposed to moderate and low doses of barium populations, remain unclear. We suggest a systematic literature review (from 1875 to 2014) on environmental distribution of barium, its bioaccumulation, and potential and proven health impacts (in animal models and humans) to provide the information that can be used for optimization of future experimental and epidemiological studies and developing of mitigative and preventive strategies to minimize negative health effects in exposed populations. The potential health effects of barium exposure are largely based on animal studies, while epidemiological data for humans, specifically for chronic low-level exposures, are sparse. The reported health effects include cardiovascular and kidney diseases, metabolic, neurological, and mental disorders. Age, race, dietary patterns, behavioral risks (e.g., smoking), use of medications (those that interfere with absorbed barium in human organism), and specific physiological status (e.g., pregnancy) can modify barium effects on human health. Identifying, evaluating, and predicting the health effects of chronic low-level and moderate-level barium exposures in humans is challenging: Future research is needed to develop an understanding of barium bioaccumulation in order to mitigate its potential health impacts in various exposured populations. Further, while occupationally exposed at-risk populations exist, it is also important to identify potentially vulnerable subgroups among non-occupationally exposed populations (e.g., elderly, pregnant women, children) who are at higher risk of barium exposure from drinking water and food.

A study was conducted to evaluate the leaching potential of unpaved road materials (URM) mixed with lime activated high carbon fly ashes and to evaluate groundwater impacts of barium, boron, copper, and zinc leaching. This objective was met by a combination of batch water leach tests, column leach tests, and computer modeling. The laboratory tests were conducted on soil alone, fly ash alone, and URM-fly ash-lime kiln dust mixtures. The results indicated that an increase in fly ash and lime content has significant effects on leaching behavior of heavy metals from URM-fly ash mixture. An increase in fly ash content and a decrease in lime content promoted leaching of Ba, B and Cu whereas Zn leaching was primarily affected by the fly ash content. Numerically predicted field metal concentrations were significantly lower than the peak metal concentrations obtained in laboratory column leach tests, and field concentrations decreased with time and distance due to dispersion in soil vadose zone.

This paper presents an overview of the global extent of naturally occurring toxic metals in groundwater. Adverse health effects attributed to the toxic metals most commonly found in groundwater are reviewed, as well as chemical, biochemical, and physiological interactions between these metals. Synergistic and antagonistic effects that have been reported between the toxic metals found in groundwater and the dietary trace elements are highlighted, and common behavioural, cultural, and dietary practices that are likely to significantly modify health risks due to use of metal-contaminated groundwater are reviewed. Methods for analytical testing of samples containing multiple metals are discussed, with special attention to analytical interferences between metals and reagents. An overview is presented of approaches to providing safe water when groundwater contains multiple metallic toxins.

This study examined the toxicological and physiological responses of a commercially important coral-reef grouper, Plectropomus leopardus (Serranidae), to injection of enriched stable-isotope barium chloride (BaCl(2)) solution. Thirty adult P. leopardus were subject to one of two (138)BaCl(2) injection treatment groups (corresponding to dosage rates of 2 and 4 mg (138)Ba kg(-1) body mass), and a control group in which fish were injected with 0.9% sodium chloride (NaCl) solution. Fish from each group were sampled at post-injection intervals of 48 h and 1, 3, 5 and 8 weeks, at which time blood and tissue samples were removed from each fish. Residual concentrations of Ba and (138)Ba:(137)Ba ratios were measured in muscle, gonad, liver and bone tissues of each experimental fish. Elevated Ba concentrations were detected in all treatment fish tissue samples within 48 h post injection. Residual Ba concentrations decreased throughout the remainder of the 8 week experimental period in all tissues except bone. The BaCl(2) injection had no significant effects on measured whole blood variables or on the plasma concentrations of steroid hormones. Enriched Ba stable isotopes can therefore be used at low dosages to mark larvae of commercially important marine fishes, without adverse effects on the health of the fishes or on humans who may consume them.

Selective blockade of the inward rectifier potassium channel I(K1) by barium, or of the rapidly activating delayed rectifier potassium channel I(Kr) by D,L-sotalol, prolongs repolarization and reduces the defibrillation threshold (DFT). This study hypothesized that combination I(K1) and I(Kr) channel block would produce concentration-dependent additive effects on DFT and ventricular refractoriness. A range of barium and D,L-sotalol concentrations, alone and in combination, were examined with respect to DFT, ventricular effective refractory period (VERP), and ventricular fibrillation cycle length (VFCL) in 133 Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts. Barium produced a concentration-dependent reduction of DFT (-49+/-4%), with concentration-dependent increases in VERP (26+/-6%) and VFCL (42+/-18%). D,L-Sotalol produced a concentration-dependent lowering of DFT (-53+/-6%) with a concentration-dependent increase in VFCL (34+/-8%) but not VERP. Low (1.6 microM), intermediate (3.1 microM), and high (12.5 microM) barium concentrations combined with varying D,L-sotalol concentrations produced equal or smaller decreases in DFT compared with corresponding doses of barium or D,L-sotalol alone. Except at the lowest concentrations of barium (1.6 and 3.1 microM) (p < 0.05), there was no significant additive interaction between barium and D,L-sotalol on VERP or VFCL. Combination I(K1) and I(Kr) channel block by barium and D,L-sotalol does not produce additive reduction of DFT.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has an established oral reference dose (RfD) value for Ba of 0.07 mg Ba/kg/d based on a 1984 investigation that reported hypertension. In this study, the toxicological data for Ba has been reevaluated and a revised oral RfD is proposed. The toxicokinetic, acute, and chronic toxicity, carcinogenicity, and reproductive animal studies as well as epidemiological and occupational health human studies for Ba exposure were reviewed for applicability to an oral RfD. The available human studies have some utility but suffer from either a small population size, a short exposure regimen, or difficulties in identifying definitive Ba exposure in the study population. As a result, the available long-term animal studies were found to be more appropriate for the RfD derivation. A dose-response assessment of no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) and lowest-observed-adverse-effect level (LOAEL) values determined that kidney effects are the most sensitive endpoint for adverse health effects related to chronic soluble Ba ingestion in mammals. The most complete animal studies were conducted by the National Toxicology Program (NTP, 1994) and the lowest species NOAELs were 75 mg Ba/kg/d in male mice and 60 mg Ba/kg/d for male rats. The male rats were identified to be the most sensitive population tested and their NOAEL value was selected for extrapolation to an oral RfD. Application of overall uncertainty factors to the lowest NOAEL value from a chronic animal study of either 90 (based on an approach proposed by Dourson, 1994) or the generally accepted 100 results in an oral RfD of 0.66 mg Ba/kg/d or 0.6 mg Ba/kg/d, respectively. It is proposed to use the more conservative value of 0.6 mg Ba/kg/d. This reassessment results in nearly an order of magnitude increase in the U.S. EPA oral RfD for Ba.

This article present a comprehensive review of all known elements involved in blood pressure control. Data source was by computerized literature searches. A total of 28 elements have been documented as being involved in blood pressure control. The individual elements react directly and indirectly in a variety of metabolic and structural activities known to participate in blood pressure regulation. Reports from both experimental animal and human subjects are presented. The role of certain elements in blood pressure control is controversial. Conversely, important established functions of dosage, absorption, storage, and excretion of individual elements are known and are described in relation to blood pressure control. Some elements are pressor, whereas others are depressor in action, and this article demonstrates the important role elements play in the control of blood pressure.