Excess barium in drinking water. Barium in bottled drinking water. Measurement conditions

Description

Barium is an alkaline earth metal. Barium compounds are widely used in the oil, electronics, and paper industries. This element is a silver-white metal with a density of 3.78 g/cu. see. In nature, barium does not occur in its pure form. The most common compounds are barium sulfate and barium carbonate. Barium enters water from natural sources; only a small proportion can be attributed to human activity. Large concentrations of the metal are found in areas where minerals such as witherite and barite occur. The barium content in water can range from 1 to 20 mg/l, while the permissible concentration of the substance in drinking water according to the standards of the World Health Organization should not exceed 0.7 mg/l; in Russia this figure is at around 0.1 mg/l . Therefore, questions about the barium content in drinking water and the purification of water from this element are important. The impact of metal on human health is high. Drinking water with a high content of this substance can lead to increased blood pressure, muscle weakness, and abdominal pain. Therefore, purifying water from this element is so important.

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Barium, one of the elements in Mendeleev's periodic table, was discovered in 1774 by the well-known chemist and pharmacist, Carl Scheele from Sweden. Barium is an alkaline earth metal, silvery-white in color, soft, slightly viscous. It is impossible to find it in nature in its pure form; it is isolated, if necessary, from compounds - silicates, carbonates, sulfates; as well as minerals, most often heavy spar (barite). Barium is also found in water, in living organisms - animal tissues, some plants.

Barium in the bodyperson

What does barium mean to us, what role does it play in the human body? According to biologists, it has not been sufficiently studied; it is not even conventionally considered a vital element. However, barium is being studied and more will likely be known about its role soon. In the meantime, scientists have classified it as a group of toxic ultramicroelements.

In the case of diseases of the digestive system, some diseases of the cardiovascular system, the barium content in the body decreases. It has been proven that even negligible amounts of barium have a noticeable effect on smooth muscles - in fact, in case of barium poisoning, severe muscle weakness is noted and muscle spasms appear.

And although the role of barium has not been fully studied, the daily dose required for a person has been determined: 0.3 - 0.9 mg. In addition, the relaxing effect of barium is not always harmful: scientists have proven that barium works simultaneously with acetylcholine, which is the main neurotransmitter, and helps relax the heart muscle.

Barium in products

Barium enters the human body with water and food. Some seafood contains tens of times more (sea plants - hundreds) more than sea water. The barium content in plants - soybeans, tomatoes can be several tens of times higher than the content in the soils on which they grow; It sometimes happens that there is a lot of barium in drinking water, but not often; and in the air - quite a bit.

Excess barium

The human body, whose body weight is about 70 kg, contains about 20-22 mg of barium. Soluble barium salts are absorbed in small quantities in the intestine; in the respiratory organs it can be 6-8 times more. Barium is found not only in muscle tissue and blood - in bones and teeth its content is higher than in other tissues of the body - almost 90%. Barium in the body interacts well with calcium - it is able to replace it in bones, since it has biochemical properties similar to it. But in the case of a constant excess supply of barium - for example, if there is a lot of it in the soil - a disturbance in calcium metabolism occurs, which can lead to the development of a serious disease - barium disease, which is characterized by a slowdown in ossification processes and rapid wear and tear of the musculoskeletal system.

In the human body, barium is found in the brain, muscles, spleen, and lens of the eye.

It has been established that a dose of 200 mg is considered harmful to humans; Opinions differ regarding the lethal dose - it ranges from 0.8 - 3.7 g, there is a possibility that the first figure is more accurate.

Barium is not considered an element capable of causing cancer or mutations, but its compounds are toxic to humans, with the exception of a substance used in medicine for X-ray examinations - barium sulfate.

An increased level of barium in the body negatively affects neurons, blood cells, tissues of the heart, and other organs.

How does the body get excess barium? According to biologists, this is the so-called “excess intake” - although they do not specify how it occurs. There is an assumption that this could be industrial and household poisoning.

Barium fluoride, used in wood processing, insecticide production - therefore, it is used in agriculture, but it can have harmful effects on humans and animals, so it requires careful study.

As studies have confirmed, rural residents are more likely to suffer from leukemia in places where barium compounds are used to treat pests; Some types of finishing materials - for example, plaster - can cause illness in builders working with them.

Water-soluble barium salts are also considered dangerous to humans - carbonates, sulfides, chlorides, nitrates; but barium sulfates and phosphates are practically safe.

In case of poisoning with barium salts, the symptoms are pronounced: burning sensation in the mouth, esophageal area, excessive salivation, nausea, vomiting, dyspepsia, colic in the intestines. Signs of damage to the nervous system: disorders of brain activity, impaired coordination of movements, the appearance of tinnitus, dizziness; signs of damage to the cardiovascular system: bradycardia, weak pulse, extrasystole; profuse sweating - cold sweat, pale skin.

Chronic poisoning can occur among workers in hazardous industries; it does not have such a drastic manifestation. When inhaling dust containing barium compounds, over time, workers develop pneumoconiosis - damage to the lungs with the formation of a fibrotic process in them. Scars and thickenings appear in the connective tissue, and progressive shortness of breath develops, manifested by a dry cough. Signs of pulmonary failure gradually appear, changes in the respiratory tract and other complications occur: bronchitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis.

Barium is a chemical element that belongs to the second group of D. Mendeleev’s PSE, an alkaline earth metal. Barium compounds are widely used in the petroleum, electronics, and paper industries. It is a silvery-white metal with a density of 3.78 g/cu. cm. Barium is not found in nature in its pure form; the element’s content in the earth’s crust does not exceed 0.065%. The most common compounds are barium sulfate and barium carbonate.

Barium enters water from natural sources; only a small proportion can be attributed to human activity. Large concentrations of the metal are found in areas where the following minerals occur: witherite, barite. The barium content in water can range from 1 to 20 mg/l, while the permissible concentration of the substance in drinking water according to the standards of the World Health Organization should not exceed 0.7 mg/l; in Russia this figure is at around 0.1 mg/l . For this reason, the question of purification of water from barium is considered at a high level. The problem of water purification from barium is dealt with by specialists from research institutes and laboratories of the Federal Agency and the Ministry of Agriculture.

The barium content in water also depends on the properties of the liquid, namely the presence of sulfates in it. Scientifically speaking, barium sulfate has a low solubility rate, therefore, at a high concentration of the substance, when water is heated to 18 degrees, barium precipitates. Despite the fairly easy way to remove barium from water and its presence in nature, the influence of the metal on the human body is high. Drinking water with a high content of this substance can lead to increased blood pressure, muscle weakness, and abdominal pain. Therefore, purifying water from this element is so important.

Barium hydroxide has a negative effect on the airways and cauterizes the cornea and skin. Barium chloride increases vascular permeability, which can lead to hemorrhage and edema, cause anemia, lymphocytosis, and leukopenia. Barium fluoride can cause nerve irritation and affect muscles. People who consume water with high concentrations of metal are susceptible to all of the above effects, therefore water purification from barium- one of the important stages in the production of clean drinking water.

Currently, there are several technologies for purifying water from barium: reverse osmosis, ion exchange, electrodialysis. Modern filters produced use reverse osmosis technology, while on an industrial scale purification of water from barium carried out by electrodialysis and ion exchange. Today there is also nanotechnology, which was developed by specialists from Vologda State Technical University (Vologda Humanitarian and Technological University), it makes it possible to purify water from barium ions by purifying groundwater from iron.

The technology of such water treatment is somewhat reminiscent of the method of heating water to 18 degrees with a high concentration of sulfates in the water, causing the formation of sediment. Research conducted by University specialists shows that the absorption process, in other words the process of sorbate absorption by the sorbent volume, can be used for purification of water from barium.

Speaking about the intake of barium into the body, it should be noted that most of it comes from food. The greatest danger comes from seafood and marine life living near areas where large amounts of barium compounds accumulate. Over time, marine inhabitants (fish, squid, oysters) accumulate a certain amount of metal in their bodies, but the content of the substance can increase; this directly depends on the structural features of the organism and its permanent habitat. Some marine plants can increase the concentration of barium in the body by 1000 times. Consumption of such products is dangerous to health. Among the most dangerous foods containing barium in the range of 2-20 mg/liter are tomatoes and soybeans. Therefore, watering and sale of the above products should be carried out under the vigilant control of inspection bodies (Sanitary and Epidemiological Service, Certification and Standardization Laboratories).

Barium is an alkaline earth metal and is not found on Earth in its pure form. However, its compounds, barium sulfate and barium carbonate, are widely used in various types of industry.

This metal enters the water from underground sources; a significant concentration of barium in the water can be contained in places where the minerals barite and witherite occur in the soil.

In Russia, the permissible value of barium is no more than 0.1 mg/l; in case of significant excess, the body is at risk of:

• Disruption of the air-respiratory tract, burn effect on the cornea of ​​the eyes and skin if there is too much barium hydroxide in the water.
• Hemorrhage, swelling, anemia as a result of impaired permeability of blood vessels when the barium chloride content is exceeded.
• Irritation of the nervous system, negative effects on muscles when exposed to barium fluoride.

Barium also enters the body with food - seafood, tomatoes, soybeans. A number of marine plants are capable of increasing the concentration of this metal by 1000 times!

The development of methods for purifying water from barium is continuously carried out in various research institutes and laboratories in Russia and other countries.

Methods for removing barium from water

The following methods for removing barium from water are well known:

• Electrodialysis
• Ion exchange
• Purification of groundwater from iron
• Reverse osmosis method

During electrodialysis, water is exposed to an electric potential in such a way that oppositely charged ions move in opposite directions. Purification of water from barium occurs thanks to numerous membranes that allow cations or anions to pass through, dividing the source water into purified water and a solution with unwanted impurities.

Ion exchange purification involves passing source water through ion exchange resins. Such loading (cation exchangers and anion exchangers) consists of weakly bound hydrogen or hydroxyl ions, which are replaced by impurities of barium ions in water.

A recently developed method for removing barium by purifying groundwater from iron is based on the process of absorption - the absorption of sorbate by the volume of sorbent.

Specialists from the Siberian Ecological Company recommend the reverse osmosis method, where water purification occurs using reverse osmosis units. Source water is supplied under pressure to semi-permeable membranes of a special design.

The advantages of this method include:

• Comprehensive water purification from iron, salts, odor, color
• When the composition of the source water changes, the quality of the purified water remains consistently high
• Easy to maintain, reliable and environmentally friendly (no chemicals used)
• Compact dimensions

More detailed information about purifying water from barium using the reverse osmosis method. "Siberian Ecological Company" accepts orders throughout Russia and Kazakhstan. Our specialists are also ready to provide advice and help with the choice of equipment.

The adult human body contains about 1000 g of calcium, mainly in hard tissues. It plays an important role in the functioning of the myocardium, nervous system, skin and bone tissue.

Excess calcium leads to a deficiency of zinc and phosphorus, but ensures active muscle activity. Lack of calcium leads to bone diseases (osteoporosis). People who engage in physical labor absorb calcium much more efficiently than those who are sedentary. You can compensate for the lack of calcium by taking calcium-containing medications several times a year. Calcium prevents the accumulation of toxic lead in bone tissue. Non-toxic to humans.

Causes of imbalance and routes of entry into the body:

Poor nutrition;

Diseases, hyperfunction of the thyroid gland;

Osteoporosis;

Kidney diseases;

Pancreatitis;

Pregnancy and lactation.

Calcium imbalance affects:

Bone tissue (osteoporosis, fractures);

Muscle tissue (cramps, increased excitability, muscle pain);

Thyroid;

The immune system;

Hematopoiesis (poor clotting).

Calcium and magnesium ions are isoelectronic with the previously discussed ions of the first group - sodium and potassium. However, in other respects the properties of the ions of magnesium and calcium ions on the one hand and sodium and potassium ions with an arc are very different.

The total calcium content of the human body is approximately 1.9% of a person's total weight, with 99% of all calcium occurring in the skeleton and only 1% in other tissues and body fluids. The daily calcium requirement for an adult ranges from 0.45 to 1.2 g per day. Calcium in food, both plant and animal, is in the form of insoluble salts. Their absorption in the stomach almost does not occur; absorption is associated with the upper part of the small intestines, mainly the duodenum. Here, absorption is greatly influenced by bile acids. Physiological regulation of calcium levels in the blood is carried out by parathyroid hormones and vitamin D through the nervous system.

Calcium is involved in all vital processes of the body. Normal blood clotting occurs only in the presence of calcium salts. Calcium plays an important role in neuromuscular tissue excitability. With an increase in the concentration of calcium and magnesium ions in the blood, neuromuscular excitability decreases, and with an increase in the concentration of sodium and potassium ions, it increases. Calcium also plays a role in the normal rhythmic functioning of the heart.

With a lack of calcium, the following are observed: tachycardia, arrhythmia, whitening of fingers and toes, muscle pain, vomiting, constipation, renal colic, hepatic colic, increased irritability, disorientation, hallucinations, confusion, memory loss, dullness. Hair becomes coarse and falls out, nails become brittle, the skin thickens and becomes rough, pits and grooves appear on the enamel of the teeth, defects form in the dentin, and the lens loses its transparency. In addition to calcium deficiency, vitamin D deficiency, especially in children, leads to the development of characteristic rachitic changes.

With excess calcium, the following are observed: chronic hypertrophic arthritis, cystic and fibrous osteodystrophy, osteofibrosis, muscle weakness, difficulty coordinating movements, deformation of the bones of the spine and legs, spontaneous fractures, waddling gait, lameness, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dysuria, chronic glomerulonephritis , polyuria, frequent urination, nocturia, anuria. With excess calcium, strong heart contractions and cardiac arrest in systole are observed.

Excess calcium can lead to zinc and phosphorus deficiency, while at the same time preventing the accumulation of lead in bone tissue.

2.3.4 Strontium

Enters the body with food, in amounts up to 3 mg. per day. Deposited mainly in bone tissue, lymph nodes, and lungs. With an excess intake of strontium, the so-called “strontium rickets” (fragility of bones) and “Urov disease” occur - an endemic disease found in the population living near the Urov River (Eastern Siberia).
The strontium content in the body is assessed based on the results of blood, urine, and hair tests. The average level of strontium in blood plasma is 20 - 70 µg/l, in urine - 30 - 250 µg/l, in hair - 0.5 - 5.0 µg/g.

Particularly dangerous is radioactive strontium-90, which, when it enters bone tissue, irradiates the bone marrow and disrupts hematopoietic processes. It enters the human body mainly with cow's milk and fish and accumulates mainly in the bones. The amount of 90 Sr deposition in the body of animals and humans depends on the age of the individual, the amount of incoming radionuclide, the intensity of growth of new bone tissue and other factors. 90 Sr poses a great danger to children, into whose bodies it enters with milk and accumulates in rapidly growing bone tissue.

2.3.4 Barium

Barium is classified as a toxic ultramicroelement. The barium content in the body is assessed based on the results of blood, urine, and hair tests. It has been established that with coronary heart disease, chronic coronary insufficiency, and diseases of the digestive system, the barium content in tissues decreases. There are no reliable data on clinical manifestations caused by barium deficiency.

With increased intake of barium into the human body, it can have a toxic effect on the nervous and cardiovascular systems and interfere with hematopoiesis.

Barium can be involved in the development of urinary disease, an endemic disease of the joints with disruption of the processes of ossification, growth, and premature wear of the osteoarticular apparatus. Supposed causes are a violation of the intake of minerals into the body (excess strontium, barium, lack of calcium)

A dose of 0.2-0.5 g of barium chloride causes acute poisoning in humans, and 0.8-0.9 g causes death. At the same time, for X-ray examination of the gastrointestinal tract, a suspension of barium sulfate in water is used, which does not have a toxic effect due to its low solubility.

Some of the barium enters the environment as a result of human activity, but it enters water mainly from natural sources. As a rule, the barium content in groundwater is low. However, in areas where barium-containing minerals (barite, witherite) occur, its concentration in water can range from a few to several tens of milligrams per liter. The barium content in water also depends on the properties of the water itself, in particular on the presence of sulfates in it, since barium sulfate has an extremely low solubility limit (2.2 mg/l at 18 o C), it easily precipitates and a relatively high barium content is possible only in waters with low sulfate content.
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Barium. Impact on water quality

The greatest danger in water are highly soluble toxic barium salts, but they tend to transform into less toxic and slightly soluble salts (sulfates and carbonates). Barium is not a highly mobile element. Being a fairly large cation, barium is quite well sorbed by clay particles, iron and manganese hydroxides, and organic colloids, which also reduces its mobility in water.
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Barium. Routes of entry into the body

The main route of entry of barium into the human body is food. Thus, some marine inhabitants are capable of accumulating barium from the surrounding water, and in concentrations 7-100 (and for some marine plants up to 1000) times higher than its content in sea water. Some plants (soybeans and tomatoes, for example) are also capable of accumulating barium from the soil 2-20 times. However, in areas where barium concentrations in water are high, drinking water may also contribute to total barium consumption. The intake of barium from the air is insignificant.