BARIUM
        FACT SHEET ON A DRINKING WATER CHEMICAL CONTAMINANT
GENERAL INFORMATION

Synonyms
• None

Chemical Description:
• Naturally occurring chemical, typically found
  as an inorganic salt

Properties:
• Exists in nature only in combined forms, [e g
  Bante • (BaSO4)]
• Solubility of barium salts is compound specific
• Mineral forms have very low vapor pressures

Production and Use:
• Barium salts are used for a number of purposes
  such as drilling mud, pigments, photographic
  papers and  x-ray contrast medium, plastic
  stabilizers, flares and  fireworks, lubricating oil
  additive,  permanent magnets, and  glass
  manufacturing

ENVIRONMENTAL PROFILE

Occurrence:
• Occurs at low levels in most  surface and
  ground water sources, typically less than 0 34
  mg/L
• Barium compounds occur  in most geologic
  materials at levels between 0 3-0.5 mg/L
• in 1987. EPA survey data indicated that barium
  was typically present in drinking water supplies
  at levels less than 0.2  mg/L

Releases:
• Contamination of drinking  water supplies by
  barium  is usually the  result  of  naturally
  occurring barium rather than industrial releases
• Released to  the atmosphere mainly by the
  industrial  processes of  mining,  refining, and
  production of  barium and  banum based
  chemicals, also released to air by burning of
  coal and oil
Environmental Fate:
• Highly persistent in water
• Not likely to bioaccumuiate

HEALTH EFFECTS

Humans:
• Low acute oral toxicity, high doses may cause
  gastrointestinal  disturbances  and  muscular
  weakness
• Chronic exposure difficult to quantify due to
  lack of effects in existing data

Experimental Animals:
• Lack of data from short-term studies
• Long-term studies indicate  that barium may
  have  hypertensive  effects   (high  blood
  pressure)
• No adequate studies on the mutagenic and
  carcinogenic potential of barium have been
  identified

REGULATORY PROFILE

Existing Standards:
  •Clean Air Act (CAA): Not regulated
  •Clean Water Act (CWA):
     Criteria established
  •Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
    (RCRA):
     Not regulated
  •Superfund (CERCLA):
     •Not regulated
     •SARA: Toxic chemical
  •Federal   Insecticide. Fungicide,  and
    Rodentlclde Act (FIFRA):
     Registered (Barium compounds)
  •Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA):
     Not regulated

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HEALTH INFORMATION
Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLG):
• Non-enforceable levels based solely on an
evaluation of possible health risks and
exposure, and taking into consideration a
margin for public safety
• Set at 2 mg/L to protect against detrimental
cardiovascular effects
MCLG for BarIum 2 mg/L
(&fectlve January 1993)
Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCL):
• Legally enforceable levels for contaminants in
public drinking water supplies
• Based on health risks associated with the
contaminants, analytical methods for their
assay, and water treatment feasibility and
practicality aspects
• Exceedance of the MCL in drinking water may
result in adverse effects which will depend
upon the contaminant concentration in water.
amount of water/contaminant ingested.
length of exposure, and other biological
parameters
• Current MCL = 1 rng/L
MCL for Barium :2mg/I
(effectIve January 1993)
EPA Health Advisories (HA):
• Short-term HAs: Provide acceptable
concentrations of contaminants in water for
up to 10 day exposures, primarily to evaluate
the public health risk resulting from an
accidental spill or an emergency
contamination situation
• Longer-t.rm HAs: Provide guidance for
persistent water contamination situations to
cover a period of up to 7 years
• Ufetlm• HAs: Derived in the same way as an
MCLG
WATER TREATMENT
Permanent Treatment:
Best Available Technology (BAT):
• Ion Exchange
• Lime Softening
• Reverse Osmosis
• Electrodialysis Reversal
SHORT-TERM HAZARD ELIMINATION
• If the drinking woter stondards ore exceeded
install BAT or use an alternative drinking water
supply such as bottled water
ADDITIONAL HELP
• State or county health officials can indicate a
certified laboratory for testing
• Experts in the state Department of
Environmental Protection or Natural Resources
may also be of help
• The EPA has toil-free numbers for further
information on drinking water quality.
treatment technologies, for obtaining Health
Advisories, and for other regulatory information
• EPA Hotiines are available Monday through
Friday
Safe DrinkIng Watec
• National Pesticides:
• Superfurid/ RCRA:
• For information on the Clean
(202) 260-7301
• For information on the Toxic Substances
Control Act, call (202) 554-1404
• For information on the Clean Air Act call
(919) 541-2777
Health Advisories :
(Values cunently under review)
ANALYTICAL METHODS
• Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorbtion
EPA Method 2082
• Direct Aspiration Atomic Absorbtion
EPA Method 208 1
• Inductively Coupled Plasma
EPA Method 200 7
800-426-4791
800-858- 7378
800-424-9346
Water Act. cclI

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