Boron

Agent Name
Boron
CAS Number
7440-42-8
Formula
B
Major Category
Metals
Category
Elements, Metallic
Description
Crystals or yellow to brown solid; [Sax] Sold as filaments, powders, whiskers, and crystals; [Hawley]
Sources/Uses
A micronutrient for plants; Used to make alloys, neutron absorbers, oxygen scavengers, composite materials, semiconductors, and rocket fuels; [Hawley] No known function in animal cells, but present at about 1 ppm; Human diet contains about 10-20 mg/day; [Ullmann] Boron (B2O3, BN, BBr3, B(COC2H5)3, SiBr4, BCl3, BF3, and B2H6) is used as a doping agent in semiconductor manufacturing. [CSH, p. 50]
Comments
Powder is a dust explosion hazard. Toxic by ingestion; [Sax] May cause irritation, but not generally considered hazardous to handle boric acid and borates; [Ullmann] Boron deficiency may cause reproductive injury in fish; Excess boric acid causes testicular damage in high-dose feeding studies of animals; [ACGIH] Boron is a "hepatotoxic agent." [Zimmerman, p. 4] Minimal Risk Level (acute or intermediate oral dose) = 0.2 mg/kg/day (Develop.); Acute inhalation dose = 0.3 mg/m3 (Resp.); [ATSDR] See "Boric acid."
Biomedical References

Exposure Assessment

Explanatory Notes
mp= 2190 deg C; [Sax] For exposure limits, see "Boric acid" and "Boron oxide."

Adverse Effects

Hepatotoxin
Hepatoxic (a) from occupational exposure (secondary effect) or (b) in animal studies or in humans after ingestion

Diseases, Processes, and Activities Linked to This Agent

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure: