Clean and healthy drinking water is something every household depends on, still not all the impurities in water can be seen with the naked eye. One such hidden substance is “barium.” Basically, barium is a metal that naturally occurs in the earth and can enter groundwater through soil erosion or certain industrial activities.
At first, barium in water may not appear to be a big concern, but drinking water that contains higher levels of it for a long time can eventually harm your health.
In this blog post, we’ll talk about what barium really is, how it can affect our health, and whether a RO system is effective in removing it from drinking water.
What is Barium?
Barium is a silvery-white metal that is soft and reacts quickly when it comes into contact with air or water. Because of this, it isn’t found alone in nature but in minerals such as barite and witherite.
Moreover, it’s widely used in making paints, glass, and fireworks. In the medical field, a barium mixture is sometimes used during X-rays to help doctors view the stomach and intestines more clearly.
5 Major Health Effects of Barium in Home Drinking Water
Here are five major health effects of barium in home drinking. Without getting into any additional details, let’s heads towards the major health effects.
Effects on BP and Heart Health:
When barium gets into the human body through drinking water, it can have some serious, harmful effects on the muscles, heart, and nervous system. One major concern is its impact on blood pressure. People who regularly drink water with excessive levels of barium may notice their blood pressure rising over time.
This usually happens because barium affects the way muscles work, especially those that control blood vessels. As the blood vessels tighten, it puts extra pressure on the human heart, which can lead to heart problems.
Effects on the Nervous System:
When too much barium enters the body, it can affect the nervous system in several ways. People who take in high amounts may feel muscle weakness, twitching, or even have problems breathing. In some cases, short-term paralysis can also occur.
This happens when barium upsets the body’s normal potassium levels. Potassium plays a basic role in keeping nerves and muscles communicating with each other, but when its balance is disturbed, those signals don’t pass smoothly.
As a result, the coordination between nerves and muscles weakens, leading to issues such as twitching, fatigue, or loss of proper muscle control.
Effects on the Digestive System:
The human digestive system can be affected by Barium. Consuming water that has a high amount of barium leads to a disturbed stomach, causing vomiting, diarrhea and nausea.
After a short period, the symptoms can appear and worsen if used for a long time. Sometimes chronic digestive problems develop in people who have used the water for many years, which contains barium-tainted elements. And somehow, weakness develops due to toxins that grow in the body.
Effects on the Kidneys:
Long-term exposure to water containing barium can negatively affect the kidneys. These organs filter waste from the blood and help maintain a stable chemical balance in the body.
When too much barium accumulates, it increases the workload on the kidneys, making it hard for them to perform their normal functions. This extra strain can harm kidneys issues or lower their efficiency over time.
People with existing kidney conditions or weaker immune systems are more likely to face serious effects.
Effects on Children and Pregnant Women:
Barium exposure can be especially harmful to young children and pregnant women, as their bodies are more sensitive to its effects. The growth and development of children can be affected by the amount of barium water they consume. The toxins affect the growing bodies of children quickly.
A low amount of barium content can lead to great effects. The research sources are limited, but consuming high levels of barium water may cause the developing baby in pregnant women. It is recommended to drink the filtered water and take precautions to prevent any risk.
See also: Enhancing Mental Health Treatment Approaches in Texas
Can a Reverse Osmosis System Eliminate Barium From Water?
Yes, a reverse osmosis system is extremely good at taking barium out of drinking water. Generally, it works by forcing water through a fine membrane that traps unwanted substances and metals such as barium.
This method can take out almost all barium from water, usually removing about 95% to 99%. That’s why plenty of people prefer using RO systems to keep their home tap water clean, safe, and great-tasting to drink. It’s very important to care for your system properly and keep it working well.
Cleaning the filters regularly and replacing them as needed helps the system run smoothly and constantly offer fresh, safe, and healthy water.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How does barium enter into drinking water?
Barium can find its own way into drinking water, specifically through natural processes and human activities. It mostly comes from the slow breakdown of rocks and minerals that naturally contain barium.
When rainwater or groundwater moves through these rocks, it can carry tiny amounts of the metal into water sources.
Additionally, industrial activities such as mining, drilling, and waste disposal can also release barium into the planet, which further raises its levels in nearby water supplies.
What are the safe levels of barium in drinking water?
As per the U.S Environmental Agency (EPA), the safest level for barium in drinking water is 2 milligrams per liter. Water higher than this recommended level can be dangerous and pose serious effects on health.
Routine water testing is important, especially if your water source is from a private well or an area near industrial activity.
Conclusion:
Although barium naturally exists in the environment, it should not be present in drinking water. Continuous exposure can slowly harm the heart, nerves, muscles, kidneys, and digestive system. Since these effects constantly appear over time, taking early precautions is important.
Using a dependable reverse osmosis filtration system and regularly checking home water quality can help protect your health. You can enjoy clean, safe, and great-tasting water every single day with proper care.
