Emergencies >>>> Is Barium poisoning possible?

Is Barium poisoning possible?

It is known that in radiology of internal organs the use of radiopaque Barium (a white substance that resembles sour cream in consistency and tastes like chalk pulp) is very common. The question arises: are Barium solutions toxic, and is it possible to be poisoned by Barium?

All water-soluble Barium salts (Barium chloride, Barium carbonate) are extremely toxic and can cause death. But in radiology, another Barium salt is used, Barium sulfate, which is practically insoluble in water and is a suspension rather than a solution. Barium sulfate is non-toxic, and it is for this reason that it is approved for use in x-ray studies. Since insoluble Barium sulfate is not absorbed by the body, it is completely eliminated from the body through the gastrointestinal tract, for which it is used for research.

What to do if for some reason soluble Barium salts still get into the digestive tract? How can you help with poisoning from poisonous Barium?

Barium salt poisoning has its typical symptoms, some of which occur immediately after ingestion (burning in the mouth), others develop gradually:

stomach pain;
nausea and vomiting;
increased salivation;
dizziness;
intestinal upset (diarrhea);
shortness of breath;
blue discoloration of mucous membranes (for example, lips).

A solution of Barium salts is dangerous because, when absorbed by the body, it causes mild muscle paralysis (flabbiness of the limbs and neck muscles), disruption of the activity of the heart muscle, disturbance of the heart rhythm, and subsequent drop in blood pressure. Death can occur within 24 hours, and is directly related to a slowdown in cardiac activity, atrial fibrillation and, against this background, a drop in blood pressure.

At home, it is not possible to independently neutralize soluble Barium salts, since it is necessary to quickly (through a tube) rinse the stomach with solutions of other salts (1% Magnesium sulfate or Sodium sulfate), which will convert soluble Barium salts into insoluble Barium sulfate, which the body evacuates through the gastrointestinal tract. Oxygen therapy and restoration of cardiac dysfunction using emergency medical care will be necessary.

The signal to contact a medical institution for emergency medical care should be a symptom of burning of the oral mucosa and a disturbance in general health, as in food poisoning. Since cardiac dysfunction up to heart failure (shortness of breath and cyanosis of the mucous membranes) against the background of low blood pressure can develop within 2-3 hours after poisoning with Barium salts, calling an ambulance should be an immediate action to save life.