Boron sodium oxide, tetrahydrate

Synonyms

Boric acid, disodium salt, tetrahydrate; Disodium octaborate tetrahydrate; Fleabor; Polybor 3; Tim-Bor; Timbor; Disodium octaborate, tetrahydrate; [ChemIDplus]

Category

Metalloid Compounds (Boron)

Description

White odorless solid; [Reference #1] White odorless powder; [U.S. Borax MSDS]

Sources/Uses

Used as an insecticide (ants, cockroaches, flies, silverfish, termites, and wood boring insects) and fungicidal wood preservative; Not used on crops but used on compost, manure, and animal quarters; [Reference #1]

Comments

Boric acid/sodium borate salts become undissociated boric acid in aqueous solution at physiological pH; Group members demonstrate moderate acute toxicity by oral exposure; Adverse effects to testes and possibly anemia in oral studies of rats and dogs; Neurotoxicity in rats; Reproductive and developmental toxicity at doses that are maternally toxic in animals; No evidence of carcinogenicity; [Reference #1] May cause mild nose and throat irritation; Not irritating to skin or eyes and not a skin sensitizer; No indication of effects to human fertility in epidemiological study of occupational exposure to borate dusts; [U.S. Borax MSDS] See "Sodium borate, decahydrate" and "Boric acid."

Reference Link #1

Biomedical References

Other CNS neurotoxin

Yes

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Applying Wood Preservatives
• Farming (Pesticides)