Acute barium intoxication following accidental inhalation of barium chloride

Suicide by an Unusual Compound

“…Inhalation of barium compounds can cause pneumoconiosis in addition to barium toxicity. 8 The lethal dose for barium compounds has been estimated at 1 to 15 g. Barium ingestion has been associated with cardiac dysrhythmias, and deaths have previously been reported with blood concentrations as low as 1.9 mg/L. 9 Barium acts as a competitive antagonist for potassium channels, blocking efflux of potassium from cells and leading to an intracellular shift in potassium.…”

“…Exposure to barium compounds can occur via ingestion or in the industrial setting via inhalation. Inhalation of barium compounds can cause pneumoconiosis in addition to barium toxicity 8 . The lethal dose for barium compounds has been estimated at 1 to 15 g. Barium ingestion has been associated with cardiac dysrhythmias, and deaths have previously been reported with blood concentrations as low as 1.9 mg/L 9…”

Inconceivable Hypokalemia: A Case Report of Acute Severe Barium Chloride Poisoning

“…These changes interfere with passive K + diffusion and may lead to the continuous decrease of extracellular potassium [6]. The ECG revealed frequent premature ventricular contractions, atrioventricular blocking, ventricular tachycardia, prolongation of PR interval, ST segment depression (0.05–0.6 mv) with U waves (up to 1.0 mv), and T wave inversion [4, 14]. …”

“…It can have an effect on skeletal muscle, smooth muscle, and myocardial excitability and may lead to significant hypokalemia, secondary respiratory paralysis, and malignant arrhythmia, resulting in serious consequences [3]. In general terms of acute barium poisoning, the blood concentration will reach its highest level within 12 h, and symptoms of poisoning will appear within 24 h [4]. Due to the lack of early clinical symptoms, barium poisoning is easy to be misdiagnosed and this has an effect on treatment methodologies.…”