Sodium borate, anhydrous

Synonyms

Anhydrous borax; Borax dehydrated; Disodium salt of boric acid; Disodium tetraborate; Fused borax; Sodium borate (anhydrous); Sodium tetraborate; [NIOSH]

Category

Metalloid Compounds (Boron)

Description

White to gray, odorless powder; Becomes opaque on exposure to air; [NIOSH]

Sources/Uses

Used as tablets or powder to kill larvae in livestock confinements and crawling insects in residences; [EPA Pesticides] Used as a fluxing agent, a buffering agent, a biocide (preservative, antiseptic, insecticide, fungicide, herbicide, algicide, nematicide), a fireproofing agent, a corrosion inhibitor, a tanning agent, and a textile bleaching agent; Used to manufacture glazes, enamels, borosilicate glass, fertilizers, detergents, antifreeze, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics; [HSDB]

Comments

The basis for the TLV for inorganic borate compounds is irritation of the nose and respiratory tract. Studies of workers exposed to sodium borate dusts found no evidence of pulmonary function or reproductive impairment. [ACGIH] Borate dust is moderately irritating to the skin, but it is not absorbed well by intact skin. Inhalation of borate dust can cause nasal irritation, cough, and chest tightness. [EPA Pesticides] In high-dose reproductive studies of animals, boric acid causes testicular damage and fetal loss. [Frazier, p. 252-3]

Biomedical References

Insufficient data

2 mg/m3, inhalable fraction

6 mg/m3, inhalable fraction

0.75 mg/m3, inhalable fraction

Explanatory Notes

TLV is for "Borate compounds, inorganic" for "all forms of sodium borate and boric acid." [ACGIH]

Yes

Not Classifiable

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Acid and Alkali Cleaning of Metals
• Farming (Pesticides)
• Glass Manufacturing
• Using Disinfectants or Biocides