No Health Advisories have been established for short-term exposures. There is no evidence that barium has the potential to cause cancer from lifetime exposures in drinking water. Barium peroxide is used as a bleach, in dyes, fireworks and tracer-bullets, in igniter and welding materials, and in manufacture of hydrogen peroxide and oxygen. The permanganate is used as a dry cell depolarizer and in disinfectants. Barium nitrate is used in fireworks, ceramic glazes, electronics, tracer bullets, detonators, and neon sign lights.
Barium cyanide is used in electroplating and metallurgy.
Barium chlorate is used in fireworks, explosives, matches, and as a mordant in dyeing. Barium hydroxide is used in lubricating oils and greases and as a component of detergents in motor oils. It is also used in plastics stabilizers, papermaking additives, sealing compounds, vulcanization accelerators, pigment dispersants and self-extinguishing polyurethane foams and to protect limestone objects from deterioration. Barium chloride is used in pigments, glass, dyeing, leather tanning, chlorine and sodium hydroxide manufacture and in water softening. Barium-based dyes are widely used in inks, paints, cosmetics and drugs.