Barium distribution, dynamics and fate in terrestrial and aquatic environments

Barium (Ba) can be found in nature as Ba minerals, such as barite (BaSO₄), hollandite (Ba₂Mn₈O₁₆), and witherite (BaCO₃), and is primarily located in rock-forming minerals, such as potassium-feldspars, micas, apatite, and calcite. Commercial applications for Ba include the production of pesticides, explosives, drilling fluids, and detergents. In addition, Ba is utilized as a pigment in paints, filler in rubber and paper, and as a contrast material for gastrointestinal tract X-ray inspection. In saline soils with high chloride concentrations, Ba forms soluble barium chloride (BaCl₂) and becomes more mobile. However, Ba ions are not highly adsorbed in acidic environments, and Ba precipitates become more soluble in acidic soils. Barium is recognized to negatively affect most organisms when it is present in large concentrations. By consuming drinking water and food sources that contain Ba, such as fish and marine life, the general population gets exposed to Ba. Humans with high levels of Ba may experience cardiac arrhythmia, vomiting, diarrhea, hypokalemia, severe hypertension, and even death. While reverse osmosis filtering systems can be used to remove Ba from aqueous media, including drinking water sources, immobilization and phytoremediation methods can help to reduce Ba contamination in soil. The present review provides an insight into the origin, geochemistry, health risks, remediation techniques, and risk management of Ba in complex environmental matrices, such as soil and aquatic ecosystems.