Reproductive toxicity, Category 1B

no data available

If inhaled

Following skin contact

Following eye contact

Following ingestion

Although no adverse effects have been reported from inhaling boric acid dust, it is absorbed through mucous membranes. Ingestion of 5 grams or more may irritate gastrointestinal tract and affect central nervous system. Contact with dust or aqueous solutions may irritate eyes; no chronic effects have been recognized, but continued contact should be avoided. Dust and solutions are absorbed through burns and open wounds but not through unbroken skin. (USCG, 1999)

The diagnoses of boric acid poisoning can be confirmed with the measurement of blood or serum boric acid levels (nL=1.4 nmol/mL), but this test is not routinely available. Treatment of boric acid toxicity is mainly supportive. Activated charcoal is not recommended because of its relatively poor adsorptive capacity for boric acid. In cases of massive oral overdose or renal failure, hemodialysis, or perhaps exchange transfusion in infants, may be helpful in shortening the half-life of boric acid.

Fire Extinguishing Agents: Water fog. (USCG, 1999)

Literature sources indicate that this compound is nonflammable. (NTP, 1992)

In case of fire in the surroundings, use appropriate extinguishing media.

Personal protection: particulate filter respirator adapted to the airborne concentration of the substance. Sweep spilled substance into covered containers. If appropriate, moisten first to prevent dusting. Wash away remainder with plenty of water.

Personal protection: particulate filter respirator adapted to the airborne concentration of the substance. Sweep spilled substance into covered containers. If appropriate, moisten first to prevent dusting. Wash away remainder with plenty of water.

Collect and arrange disposal. Keep the chemical in suitable and closed containers for disposal. Remove all sources of ignition. Use spark-proof tools and explosion-proof equipment. Adhered or collected material should be promptly disposed of, in accordance with appropriate laws and regulations.

Handling in a well ventilated place. Wear suitable protective clothing. Avoid contact with skin and eyes. Avoid formation of dust and aerosols. Use non-sparking tools. Prevent fire caused by electrostatic discharge steam.

Separated from strong bases.Preserve in well-closed containers.

Occupational Exposure limit values

Biological limit values

Ensure adequate ventilation. Handle in accordance with good industrial hygiene and safety practice. Set up emergency exits and the risk-elimination area.

Eye/face protection

Skin protection

Respiratory protection

Thermal hazards

Decomposes above 100°C . This produces water and irritant boric anhydride. The solution in water is a weak acid. Attacks metals. This produces hydrogen. This generates fire and explosion hazard.

Stable in air.

Not flammableBORIC ACID is a very weak acid. Incompatible with alkali carbonates and hydroxides. During an attempt to make triacetyl borate, a mixture of boric acid and acetic anhydride exploded when heated to 58-60°C [Chem. Eng. News 51:(34) 1973]. Reacts violently with the strong reducing agent potassium metal.

no data available

During an attempt to make triacetyl borate, a mixture of boric acid and acetic anhydride exploded when heated to 58-60 deg C.

Boric acid decomposes in heat above 100 deg C forming boric anhydride and water.

Acute toxicity

• Oral: LD50 - rat (male) - 3 450 mg/kg bw. Remarks:Mg boric acid/kg.
• Inhalation: LC50 - rat (male/female) - > 2.03 mg/L air.
• Dermal: LD50 - rabbit (male/female) - > 2 000 mg/kg bw.

Skin corrosion/irritation

Serious eye damage/irritation

Respiratory or skin sensitization

Germ cell mutagenicity

Carcinogenicity

Reproductive toxicity

STOT-single exposure

STOT-repeated exposure

Aspiration hazard

• Toxicity to fish: LC50 - Pimephales promelas - 79.7 mg/L - 96 h.
• Toxicity to daphnia and other aquatic invertebrates: LC50 - other aquatic mollusc: Lampsilis siliquoidea (Fatmucket mussel) - 137 mg/L - 96 h. Remarks:(Microscopic inspection for movement of foot or cilia).
• Toxicity to algae: EC10 - Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata (previous names: Raphidocelis subcapitata, Selenastrum capricornutum) - 24.5 mg/L - 3 d.
• Toxicity to microorganisms: EC50 - activated sludge of a predominantly domestic sewage - > 10 000 mg/L - 3 h. Remarks:Respiration rate.

No biotransformation processes have been reported for boron compounds(1). Boric acid has been shown to be a mild antiseptic agent with bacteriostatic action(2). A concentration beyond 10 mg/L produces toxicity to activated sludge cultures(3).

Highly water soluble materials are unlikely to bioaccumulate to any significant degree, and borate species are all present essentially as undissociated boric acid at neutral pH(1). The octanol/water partition coefficient for boric acid has been measured as 0.175(1), indicating low bioaccumulation potential(1). Boron did not bioaccumulate in 47-day and 21-day exposure tests using oysters and sockeye salmon respectively(1).

Boric acid adsorption to illite (three-layered clay consisting of two outer layers of hydrated SiO2 and a central layer of hydrated Al2O3) and kaolinite (alternate layers of SiO2 and Al2O3) clays, as well as activated sludge was studied. The compound was added to 100 mL flasks corresponding to a boron concentration range of zero to 256 mg/L. It was observed that kaollinite adsorbed about 40 times (Kd = 0.199 (Freundlich adsorption coefficient)) more boric acid than illinite (Kd = 0.005) at pH 7; five times as much boric acid adsorbed to activated sludge (Kd = 0.025) as to illinite at pH 7(1). Boron adsorption is influenced by the distribution of boron species (H3BO3; B(OH)4(-)) as well as pH, the type and/or composition of the solution matrix, and surface properties(2). The pKa of boric acid is 9.24(3), indicating that this compound will exist primarily in the undissociated form in the environment, but partially in the anion form in alkaline soils(SRC). However, boric acid is a Lewis acid and therefore behaves as an electron acceptor, rather than a proton donor(3).

no data available

Product

Contaminated packaging

no data available

no data available

Information on revision

Abbreviations and acronyms

• CAS: Chemical Abstracts Service
• ADR: European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road
• RID: Regulation concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail
• IMDG: International Maritime Dangerous Goods
• IATA: International Air Transportation Association
• TWA: Time Weighted Average
• STEL: Short term exposure limit
• LC50: Lethal Concentration 50%
• LD50: Lethal Dose 50%
• EC50: Effective Concentration 50%
•