Barium
CAS ID #: 7440-39-3
Affected Organ Systems: Cardiovascular (Heart and Blood Vessels), Gastrointestinal (Digestive), Reproductive (Producing Children)
Cancer Classification: EPA: Not classifiable as to human carcinogenicity. IARC: Not evaluated. NTP: Not evaluated
Please contact NTP, IARC, or EPA’s IRIS Hotline with questions on cancer and cancer classification.
Chemical Classification: Inorganic substancesSummary: Barium is a silvery-white metal which exists in nature only in ores containing mixtures of elements. It combines with other chemicals such as sulfur or carbon and oxygen to form barium compounds. Barium compounds are used by the oil and gas industries to make drilling muds. Drilling muds make it easier to drill through rock by keeping the drill bit lubricated. They are also used to make paint, bricks, ceramics, glass, and rubber. Barium sulfate is sometimes used by doctors to perform medical tests and to take x-rays of the gastrointestinal tract.
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Isla de Vieques is part of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, located about 7 miles east-southeast of the main island of Puerto Rico. Until May 2003, the U.S. Navy owned approximately half of the island and conducted military exercises that included live bombing. The live bombing exercises were conducted until April 1999 in a 900-acre area known as the Live Impact Area. The Navy conducted exercises with practice bombs from May 2000 to May 2003.
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- Page last reviewed: March 3, 2011
- Page last updated: March 3, 2011
- Content source: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
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