Barium carbonate: Uses and Toxicity
Feb 17,2025
Barium carbonate (BaCO3) is a common inorganic barium salt compound that is insoluble in water and organic solvents and can react with acids to release carbon dioxide. It is widely used in rodenticides, manufacturing cement, electroceramic materials, glazes, bricks, frits, and enamels. It is used as a coating for welding electrodes and as a purifier in the glassmaking process to ensure uniformity during the purification of glass melts and caustic soda brine. The product is also used as a source for the manufacture of other barium chemicals such as chlorides, peroxides, and nitrates.
In addition, BaCO3/tin dioxide nanoparticles also have photocatalytic activity and can be used for the degradation of crystal violet dye, which is a relatively stable process. When the dosage of BaCO3/tin dioxide nanoparticles was 10 mg/10 mL crystal violet dye solution and the UV-visible light irradiation time was 8 h, the crystal violet degradation rate reached 92.1%; when the dosage of BaCO3/tin dioxide nanoparticles was increased to 20 mg/10 mL crystal violet dye solution, the crystal violet degradation rate increased to 96.1%; the active species capture photocatalytic experiment showed that holes, hydroxyl radicals and superoxide ion radicals were the main active species.
Toxicity
Barium carbonate is generally considered harmless because it is non-flammable, stable at 1100℃, and decomposes into oxides when releasing carbon dioxide. However, barium carbonate is soluble in the gastrointestinal tract, and excessive intake of barium in the diet can easily cause BaCO3 food poisoning. Barium poisoning can cause vomiting, colic, diarrhea, bleeding, hypertension, myocardial and systemic muscle stimulation, flaccid paralysis, and mild tingling in the limbs, but there is no obvious sensory impairment. Mental acuity remains unchanged. 5-10% of cases die within the first 48 hours. Survivors made a full recovery. BaCO3, a rodenticide, can also cause hypokalemic paralysis, in which patients develop trismus. Hypokalemia causes quadriplegia. Myotonia is the temporary, uncontrollable muscle tension during voluntary muscle contraction. This tension is caused by the inability of skeletal muscles to relax normally. Biting difficulties may be a manifestation of focal myotonia caused by secondary periodic paralysis (hypokalemic) caused by barium carbonate, as both myotonia and periodic paralysis depend on ion-sensitive channels (there may be a genetic predisposition).
References:
[1] J.F. HUANG. Hydrothermal Synthesis and Photocatalytic Performance of Barium Carbonate/tin Dioxide Nanoparticles[J]. Micro and Nanosystems, 2021. DOI:10.2174/1876402913666211110144252.
[2] Z LEWI; Y B K. FOOD-POISONING FROM BARIUM CARBONATE.[J]. The Lancet, 1964, 2 7355: 342-343. DOI:10.1016/s0140-6736(64)90281-8.
[3] GUPTA S. Barium carbonate, hypokalaemic paralysis and trismus.[J]. Postgraduate Medical Journal, 1994, 70 830: 938-939. DOI:10.1136/pgmj.70.830.938.
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