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HEALTH EFFECTS OF HUMAN EXPOSURE TO BARIUM IN DRINKING WATER
Citation:
Brenniman, G., W. Kojola, P. Levy, B. Carnow, AND T. Namekata. HEALTH EFFECTS OF HUMAN EXPOSURE TO BARIUM IN DRINKING WATER. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/1-79/003.
Description:
The overall objective of this study was to examine by epidemiologic and supportive laboratory studies, the human health effects associated with ingestion of barium in drinking water exceeding the U.S. drinking water standard of 1.0 mg/l. The incidence of cardiovascular mortality and/or the prevalence of various cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and renal diseases was compared between communities with barium concentrations exceeding the drinking water standard, and communities which have negligible barium in their drinking water. Mortality rates for cardiovascular diseases were retrospectively determined for the years 1971-1975. A comparison between communities with elevated barium levels (greater than 2 mg/l) and communities with low or no barium (less than 0.2 mg/l) in their public water supplies did show higher mortality rates for the exposed population. The prevalence of various cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and renal diseases in two communities having similar socioeconomic characteristics and different concentrations of barium in their drinking water (mean barium concentration of 7 mg/l in water supply of exposed population as compared to 0.1 mg/l in the control) was determined through an epidemiology study. Results of the study revealed significant differences in blood pressure between the two communities and especially in the male population exposed to barium when the data were refined to correct for the influence of water softening, blood pressure medication, hypertension and duration of exposure.