Sodium borate, anhydrous

Agent Name
Sodium borate, anhydrous
CAS Number
1330-43-4
Formula
B4-O7.2Na
Major Category
Metals
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

Exposure Assessment

Skin Designation (ACGIH)
Insufficient data
TLV (ACGIH)
2 mg/m3, inhalable fraction
STEL (ACGIH)
6 mg/m3, inhalable fraction
MAK
0.75 mg/m3, inhalable fraction, as B (no reason to fear damage to embryo or fetus)
Explanatory Notes
TLV is for "Borate compounds, inorganic" for "all forms of sodium borate and boric acid." [ACGIH]

Adverse Effects

Reproductive Toxin
Yes
ACGIH Carcinogen
Not Classifiable

Diseases, Processes, and Activities Linked to This Agent