Lack of effect of drinking water barium on cardiovascular risk factors

Journal Article · Sun Apr 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · Environmental Health Perspectives; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/3430694· OSTI ID:6225687

Wones, R G; Stadler, B L; Frohman, L A ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Cincinnati College of Medicine, OH (USA)

Higher cardiovascular mortality has been associated in a single epidemiological study with higher levels of barium in drinking water. The purpose of this study was to determine whether drinking water barium at levels found in some U.S. communities-alters the known risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Eleven healthy men completed a 10-week dose-response protocol in which diet was controlled. Other aspects of the subjects' lifestyles known to affect cardiac risk factors were controlled, and the barium content (as barium chloride) of the drinking water was varied from 0, to 5 ppm, to 10 ppm. Multiple blood and urine samples, morning and evening blood pressure measurements, and 48-hr electrocardiographic monitoring were performed at each dose of barium. There were no changes in morning or evening systolic or diastolic blood pressures, plasma cholesterol or lipoprotein or apolipoprotein levels, serum potassium or glucose levels, or urine catecholamine levels. There were no arrythmias related to barium exposure detected on continuous electrocardiographic monitoring. A trend was seen toward increased total serum calcium levels with exposure to barium, which was of borderline statistical significance and of doubtful clinical significance. In summary, drinking water barium at levels of 5 and 10 ppm did not appear to affect any of the known modifiable cardiovascular risk factors.

• OSTI ID: 6225687
• Journal Information: Environmental Health Perspectives; (USA), Journal Name: Environmental Health Perspectives; (USA) Vol. 85; ISSN 0091-6765; ISSN EVHPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
ANIMALS
BARIUM COMPOUNDS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BLOOD PRESSURE
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
DIAGRAMS
DISEASES
DRINKING WATER
ELECTROCARDIOGRAMS
HUMAN POPULATIONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INGESTION
INTAKE
LIFE STYLES
MALES
MAMMALS
MAN
MEN
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POPULATIONS
PRIMATES
RISK ASSESSMENT
VERTEBRATES
WATER