BORAX

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW BORAX IS A WHITE, ODORLESS, POWDERED SUBSTANCE THAT IS NOT FLAMMABLE, COMBUSTIBLE, OR EXPLOSIVE AND HAS LOW ACUTE ORAL AND DERMAL TOXICITY. POTENTIAL ECOLOGICAL EFFECTS LARGE AMOUNTS OF BORAX CAN BE HARMFUL TO PLANTS AND OTHER SPECIES. THEREFORE, RELEASES TO THE ENVIRONMENT SHOULD BE MINIMIZED.

Principle Routes of Exposure

INHALATION IS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ROUTE OF EXPOSURE IN OCCUPATIONAL AND OTHER SETTINGS. DERMAL EXPOSURE IS NOT USUALLY A CONCERN BECAUSE BORAX IS POORLY ABSORBED THROUGH INTACT SKIN. INHALATION: OCCASIONAL MILD IRRITATION EFFECTS TO NOSE AND THROAT MAY OCCUR FROM INHALATION OF BORAX DUST AT LEVELS GREATER THAN 10 MG/M3. EYE CONTACT: BORAX IS NON-IRRITATING TO EYES IN NORMAL INDUSTRIAL USE. SKIN CONTACT: BORAX DOES NOT CAUSE IRRITATION TO INTACT SKIN. INGESTION: PRODUCTS CONTAINING BORAX ARE NOT INTENDED FOR INGESTION. BORAX HAS A LOW ACUTE TOXICITY. SMALL AMOUNTS (E.G., A TEASPOONFUL) SWALLOWED ACCIDENTALLY ARE NOT LIKELY TO CAUSE EFFECTS; SWALLOWING AMOUNTS LARGER THAN THAT MAY CAUSE GASTROINTESTINAL SYMPTOMS. CANCER: BORAX IS NOT A KNOWN CARCINOGEN. REPRODUCTIVE/DEVELOPMENTAL: ANIMAL INGESTION STUDIES IN SEVERAL SPECIES, AT HIGH DOSES, INDICATE THAT BORATES CAUSE REPRODUCTIVE AND DEVELOPMENTAL EFFECTS. A HUMAN STUDY OF OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO BORATE DUST SHOWED NO ADVERSE EFFECT ON REPRODUCTION. TARGET ORGANS: NO TARGET ORGAN HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED IN HUMANS. HIGH DOSE ANIMAL INGESTION STUDIES INDICATE THE TESTES ARE THE TARGET ORGANS IN MALE ANIMALS. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF EXPOSURE: SYMPTOMS OF ACCIDENTAL OVER-EXPOSURE TO BORAX MIGHT INCLUDE NAUSEA, VOMITING AND DIARRHEA, WITH DELAYED EFFECTS OF SKIN REDNESS AND PEELING. THESE SYMPTOMS HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCIDENTAL OVER-EXPOSURE TO THE CHEMICALLY RELATED SUBSTANCE BORIC ACID. REFER TO SECTION 11 FOR DETAILS ON TOXICOLOGICAL DATA.