Sodium Tetraborate

H360FD: May damage fertility; May damage the unborn child [Danger Reproductive toxicity]

P203, P280, P318, P405, and P501 (click each P-code to see the statement)

H319 (53.2%): Causes serious eye irritation [Warning Serious eye damage/eye irritation]

H360 (88.5%): May damage fertility or the unborn child [Danger Reproductive toxicity]

H360FD (22.3%): May damage fertility; May damage the unborn child [Danger Reproductive toxicity]

P203, P264+P265, P280, P305+P351+P338, P318, P337+P317, P405, and P501 (click each P-code to see the statement)

Aggregated GHS information provided per 1733 reports by companies from 44 notifications to the ECHA C&L Inventory. Each notification may be associated with multiple companies.

Information may vary between notifications depending on impurities, additives, and other factors. The percentage value in parenthesis indicates the notified classification ratio from companies that provide hazard codes. Only hazard codes with percentage values above 10% are shown. For more detailed information, please visit ECHA C&L website.

H315: Causes skin irritation [Warning Skin corrosion/irritation]

H319: Causes serious eye irritation [Warning Serious eye damage/eye irritation]

H335: May cause respiratory irritation [Warning Specific target organ toxicity, single exposure; Respiratory tract irritation]

H360: May damage fertility or the unborn child [Danger Reproductive toxicity]

H370: Causes damage to organs [Danger Specific target organ toxicity, single exposure]

H372: Causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure [Danger Specific target organ toxicity, repeated exposure]

P203, P260, P261, P264, P264+P265, P270, P271, P280, P302+P352, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P308+P316, P318, P319, P321, P332+P317, P337+P317, P362+P364, P403+P233, P405, and P501 (click each P-code to see the statement)

H320: Causes eye irritation [Warning Serious eye damage/eye irritation]

H373: May causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure [Warning Specific target organ toxicity, repeated exposure]

H402: Harmful to aquatic life [Hazardous to the aquatic environment, acute hazard]

H412: Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects [Hazardous to the aquatic environment, long-term hazard]

P203, P260, P261, P264, P264+P265, P270, P271, P273, P280, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P308+P316, P318, P319, P321, P337+P317, P403+P233, P405, and P501 (click each P-code to see the statement)

H302: Harmful if swallowed [Warning Acute toxicity, oral]

P260, P264, P264+P265, P270, P280, P301+P317, P305+P351+P338, P319, P330, P337+P317, and P501 (click each P-code to see the statement)

Fresh air, rest.

Rinse and then wash skin with water and soap.

First rinse with plenty of water for several minutes (remove contact lenses if easily possible), then refer for medical attention.

Rinse mouth. Do NOT induce vomiting. Refer immediately for medical attention.

(General first aid procedures)

Eye: Irrigate immediately - If this chemical contacts the eyes, immediately wash (irrigate) the eyes with large amounts of water, occasionally lifting the lower and upper lids. Get medical attention immediately.

Skin: Soap wash - If this chemical contacts the skin, wash the contaminated skin with soap and water.

Breathing: Respiratory support

Swallow: Medical attention immediately - If this chemical has been swallowed, get medical attention immediately.

In case of fire in the surroundings, use appropriate extinguishing media.

Personal protection: particulate filter respirator adapted to the airborne concentration of the substance. Sweep spilled substance into covered containers. If appropriate, moisten first to prevent dusting. Carefully collect remainder. Then store and dispose of according to local regulations.

Sweep spilled substance into containers. Carefully collect remainder, then remove to safe place. (Extra personal protection: P2 filter respirator for harmful particles). /table/

SRP: The most favorable course of action is to use an alternative chemical product with less inherent propensity for occupational exposure or environmental contamination. Recycle any unused portion of the material for its approved use or return it to the manufacturer or supplier. Ultimate disposal of the chemical must consider: the material's impact on air quality; potential migration in soil or water; effects on animal, aquatic, and plant life; and conformance with environmental and public health regulations.

SRP: The scientific literature for the use of contact lenses in industry is conflicting. The benefit or detrimental effects of wearing contact lenses depend not only upon the substance, but also on factors including the form of the substance, characteristics and duration of the exposure, the uses of other eye protection equipment, and the hygiene of the lenses. However, there may be individual substances whose irritating or corrosive properties are such that the wearing of contact lenses would be harmful to the eye. In those specific cases, contact lenses should not be worn. In any event, the usual eye protection equipment should be worn even when contact lenses are in place.

The worker should wash daily at the end of each work shift.

Workers whose clothing may have become contaminated should change into uncontaminated clothing before leaving the work premises.

SRP: Local exhaust ventilation should be applied wherever there is an incidence of point source emissions or dispersion of regulated contaminants in the work area. Ventilation control of the contaminant as close to its point of generation is both the most economical and safest method to minimize personnel exposure to airborne contaminants.

SRP: Contaminated protective clothing should be segregated in such a manner so that there is no direct personal contact by personnel who handle, dispose, or clean the clothing. Quality assurance to ascertain the completeness of the cleaning procedures should be implemented before the decontaminated protective clothing is returned for reuse by the workers. Contaminated clothing should not be taken home at end of shift, but should remain at employee's place of work for cleaning.

Dry. Well closed.

Storage temperature: ambient

Preserve in tight containers.

0.75 [mg/m3], inhalable fraction[German Research Foundation (DFG)]

TWA 1 mg/m3

none See Appendix G

See: IDLH INDEX

2.0 [mg/m3], inhalable fraction

6.0 [mg/m3], inhalable fraction

8 hr Time Weighted Avg (TWA): 2 mg/cu m (Inhalable fraction); 15 min Short Term Exposure Limit (STEL): 6 mg/cu m (Inhalable fraction). /Borate compounds, inorganic/

A4; Not classifiable as a human carcinogen. /Borate compounds, Inorganic/

(inhalable fraction): 2 mg/m

2 mg/m³ (inhalable particulate matter) [2004]

6 mg/m³ (inhalable particulate matter) [2004]

0.75 mg/m

Belgium (1974) and the Netherlands (1976) have adopted the value 1 mg/cu m

1-5 mg/cu m (USSR) /Borates/

Limit for livestock is 5 ug/ml boron in water. /Boron/

0.5 mg/l maximum (USSR) /Boron in drinking water/

Evaporation at 20 °C is negligible; a harmful concentration of airborne particles can, however, be reached quickly , especially if powdered.

The substance is irritating to the eyes, skin and respiratory tract. The substance may cause effects on the central nervous system and kidneys. This may result in impaired functions.

Repeated or prolonged contact with skin may cause dermatitis. The substance may have effects on the upper respiratory tract and testes. Animal tests show that this substance possibly causes toxicity to human reproduction or development.

Residues of sodium tetraborate are exempted from the requirement of a tolerance when used as a buffering agent, corrosion inhibitor in accordance with good agricultural practice as inert (or occasionally active) ingredients in pesticide formulations applied to growing crops only. Limit: not more than 2% of pesticide formulation.

An exemption from the requirement of a tolerance is established for residues of the pesticidal chemical boric acid and its salts, borax (sodium borate decahydrate), disodium octaborate tetrahydrate, boric oxide (boric anhydride), sodium borate and sodium metaborate, in or on raw agricultural commodities when used as an active ingredient in insecticides, herbicides, or fungicides preharvest or postharvest in accordance with good agricultural practices.

Protective gloves.

Wear goggles or face shield when handling

Important additional information about respirator selection

PREVENT DISPERSION OF DUST! STRICT HYGIENE!

Use local exhaust or breathing protection.

Protective gloves. Protective clothing.

Wear safety spectacles or eye protection in combination with breathing protection.

Do not eat, drink, or smoke during work.

Liquid; Liquid; Other Solid; Dry Powder; Large Crystals; Large Crystals; Dry Powder; Other Solid

Powder or glass-like plates becoming opaque on exposure to air; slowly soluble in water

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

COLOURLESS-TO-WHITE HYGROSCOPIC CRYSTALS OR POWDER. TURNS OPAQUE ON EXPOSURE TO AIR.

White to gray, odorless powder.

White to gray, odorless powder. [herbicide] [Note: Becomes opaque on exposure to air.]

Colorless glassy solid; hygroscopic

Light grey, vitreous granules

White to gray powder; becomes opaque on exposure to air

Odorless

1,575 °C (decomposes)

2867 °F (decomposes)

2867 °F (Decomposes)

Between 171 °C and 175 °C with decomposition

Water solubility: 3.1% at 25 °C; 2.5% at 20 °C

Solubility at 25 °C: 16.7% in methanol; 30% in ethylene glycol; 40.6 g/L in formamide

Solubility in water, g/100ml at 20 °C: 2.56

White crystals or powder, odorless; density: 1.73 20 °C/4 °C; loses water of crystallization when heated, with melting between 75 and 320 °C; fuses to a glassy mass at red heat (borax glass); effloresces slightly in warm dry air; soluble in water, glycerol; insoluble in alcohol /Sodium tetraborate decahydrate/

Relative density (water = 1): 2.4

Negligible at 20 °C

0 mmHg (approx)

.../Becomes/ opaque on exposure to air. /Anhydrous/

Forms partial hydrate in damp air.

When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of boron.

1575 °C. This produces toxic fumes including sodium oxide.

Solutions are not a corrosion hazard to ferrous metals

pH = 9.3 at 20 °C (3% solution)

INDEX OF REFRACTION: 1.5010

Heat of formation (glass): -32566 MJ/mol; heat of formation (alpha crystalline form): -3.2767 MJ/mol; heat of solution: -213.8 kJ/kg; heat of fusion: 81.2 kJ/mol

Molar heat capacity: 186.8 J/K mol at 25 °C

White, free-flowing crystals, hygroscopic; forms partial hydrate in damp air; mp: 741 °C; density: 2.367; slightly soluble in cold water /Anhydrous sodium tetraborate/

Hygroscopic

Metals -> Metalloid Compounds (Boron)

Buffering

Herbicides, Insecticides, Molluscicides

Active substance -> EU Pesticides database: Not approved

Incompatible with alkaloidol salts, mercuric chloride, zinc sulfate, and other metallic salts.

Moisture [Note: Forms partial hydrate in moist air].

Moisture [Note: Forms partial hydrate in moist air.]

A4; Not classifiable as a human carcinogen. /Borate compounds, Inorganic/

The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation of its aerosol and by ingestion.

inhalation, ingestion, skin and/or eye contact

Cough. Sore throat. Shortness of breath.

Redness.

Redness. Pain.

Nausea. Vomiting. Abdominal pain. Diarrhoea. Weakness. Drowsiness.

irritation eyes, skin, upper respiratory system; dermatitis; epistaxis (nosebleed); cough, dyspnea (breathing difficulty)

Eyes, skin, respiratory system

Reproductive Toxin - A chemical that is toxic to the reproductive system, including defects in the progeny and injury to male or female reproductive function. Reproductive toxicity includes developmental effects. See Guidelines for Reproductive Toxicity Risk Assessment.

ACGIH Carcinogen - Not Classifiable.

LD50 Rabbit dermal >1055 mg/kg

LD50 Rat oral 2660 mg/kg bw

LC50 Rat inhalation >2 mg/cu m/4 hr.

Maintain an open airway and assist ventilation if nescessary. treat coma, seizures, hypotension, and renal failure if they occur. There is no specific antidote. Administer activated charcoal (although boric acid is not well absorbed). Consider gastric lavage for large ingestions. /Boric acid, Borates, and Boron/

Hemodialysis is effective and is indicated after massive ingestions and for supportive care of renal failure. Peritoneal dialysishas not proved effective in enhancing elimination in infants. /Boric acid, Borates, and Boron/

In acute poisonings, if a large amount has been ingested and the patient is seen within one hour of exposure, gastrointestinal decontamination should be considered ... .It is important to keep in mind that vomiting and diarrhea are common, and severe poisoning may be associated with seizures. Therefore induction of emesis by syrup of ipecac is probably contraindicated in these exposures. Catharsis is not indicated if diarrhea is present. /Boric acid and Borates/

If ingestion of borate has been massive (several grams), or has extended over several days, administer intravenous glucose and electrolyte solutions to sustain urinary excretion of borate. Monitor fluid balance and serum electrolytes (including bicarbonate capacity ) regularly. Monitor cardiac status by ECG. Test the urine for proteins and cells to detect renal injury, and monitor serum concentration of borate. Metabolic acidosis may be treated with sodium bicarbonate. If shock develops, it may be necessary to infuse plasma or whole blood. Administer oxygen continuously. If oliguria (less than 25 to 30 mL urine per hour) occurs, intravenous fluids must be slowed or stopped to avoid overloading the circulation. Such patients should be referred to a center capable of providing intensive care for critically ill patients. /Boric acid and Borates/

For more Antidote and Emergency Treatment (Complete) data for SODIUM TETRABORATE (7 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

No specific considerations are needed for boric acid or borates except for general health and liver and kidney function. /Boric acid and borates/

/HUMAN EXPOSURE STUDIES/ This study (1) charted chemosensory feel, denoted chemesthesis here, to dusts of calcium oxide (1 to 5 mg/m(3)), sodium tetraborate pentahydrate [sodium borate] (5 to 40 mg/m(3)), and calcium sulfate (10 to 40 mg/m(3)); (2) examined correlates of the chemesthetic sensations; and (3) sought to illuminate the basis for potency. Twelve screened men exercised against a light load while they breathed air in a dome fed with controlled levels of dust for 20 min. Measured parameters included nasal resistance, nasal secretion, minute ventilation, heart rate, blood oxygenation, mucociliary transport time, and chemesthetic magnitude, calibrated to pungency of carbon dioxide. Subjects registered time-dependent feel from exposures principally in the nose, secondarily in the throat, and hardly in the eyes. Calcium oxide had the greatest potency, followed by sodium borate, with calcium sulfate a distant third. Of the physiological parameters, amount of secretion showed the best association with chemesthetic potency. That measure, as well as mucociliary transport time and minute ventilation, went into calculation of mass of dust dissolved into mucus. The calculations indicated that the two alkaline dusts increased in equal molar amounts with time. At equal molar concentrations, they had, to a first approximation, equal chemesthetic magnitude. On the basis of mass concentration in air or dissolved into mucus, calcium oxide and sodium borate differed in potency by a factor just above five, equal to the difference in their molecular weights.

/SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS/ Symptoms of poisoning: Nausea, diarrhea, rashes, CNS depression, and coma.

/SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS/ An intravenous dose of 14-20 g of sodium borate was administered for the purposes of neutron capture therapy to 10 patients, who experienced immediate nausea, vomiting, defecation, and occasionally seizures and respiratory depression.

/SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS/ Inhalation: Cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, nose bleed. /from table/

For more Human Toxicity Excerpts (Complete) data for SODIUM TETRABORATE (11 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

/LABORATORY ANIMALS: Subchronic or Prechronic Exposure/ 2-Month-old male Wistar rats were given sodium tetraborate in drinking water (3 g/L). Cerebral succinate dehydrogenase activity increased after 10 and 14 weeks of exposure. Increased RNA concentration and increased acid proteinase activity in brain occurred after 14 weeks. NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity and cytochrome b5 content decreased in the liver microsomal fraction after 10 and 14 weeks. A reduction in the cytochrome P-450 concentration was detected at 14 weeks. The results support the hypothesis that borate anion exerts its toxic action by interfering with flavin metabolism in flavoprotein-dependent pathways.

/GENOTOXICITY/ Sodium borate did not cause gene mutations in the S. typhimurium preincubation assay.

/GENOTOXICITY/ Negative in the mammalian cell gene mutation assay using C3H/10T1/2; human diploid foreskin fibroblasts; V79 Chinese hampster ovary cells at concentrations of 0, 0.4, 0.8, 1.6, and 3.2 mg/L.

LC50 Chironomus decorus (Midge, fourth instar) 1,376 mg B/L/48 hr /Conditions of bioassay not specified in source examined/

LC50 Daphnia magna (Water flea, neonate) 141 mg B/L/48 hr /Conditions of bioassay not specified in source examined/

LC50 Gambusia affinis (Western mosquitofish) 346 mg/L/24 hr; static /formulated product/

LC50 Gambusia affinis (Western mosquitofish) 236 mg/L/48 hr; static /formulated product/

For more Ecotoxicity Values (Complete) data for SODIUM TETRABORATE (10 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

/AQUATIC SPECIES/ Acute toxicity evaluations of waterborne sodium tetraborate resulted in 48 hr LC50 values of 141 and 1376 mg boron for neonate Daphnia magna and fourth instar Chironomus decorus, respectively. Chronic sublethal studies demonstrated a significant decrease in C. decorus growth rate at 20 mg B/L. Further studies showed that increasing water hardness (10.6 to 170 mg/L as CaCo3) and sulfate (10.2 to 323.4 mg SO4-2/L) concentrations did not affect boron toxicity to D. magna. These results, in conjunction with a review of the literature, suggest that aquatic macrophytes may be more sensitive to boron than macroinvertebrates...

/AQUATIC SPECIES/ Laboratory studies were undertaken to evaluate the toxicity of waterborne boron to two key freshwater macroinvertebrates and to evaluate the effects of water hardness and sulfate on boron toxicity. Acute toxicity evaluations of waterborne sodium tetraborate resulted in 48 hr LC50 values of 141 and 1376 mg B/L for neonate Daphnia magna and fourth instar Chironomus decorus, respectively. Chronic sublethal studies demonstrated a significant decrease in C. decorus growth rate at 20 mg B/L. Further studies showed that increasing water hardness (10.6 to 170 mg/L as CaCO3) and sulfate (10.2 to 325.4 mg SO4(-2)/L) concentrations did not affect boron toxicity to D. magna.

The substance is harmful to aquatic organisms.

SODIUM TETRABORATE, Na2B4O7, USUALLY OCCURS AS BORAX, WHICH IS THE DECAHYDRATE MINERAL DEPOSITED BY EVAPORATION OF SALT LAKES IN TERTIARY PERIODS. IT IS ALSO MINED AS MINERALS COLEMANITE ... & KERNITE ...

Terrestrial Fate: Average persistence at recommended rates is one or more years, depending on soil type and rainfall. Less persistent in acid soils and in high rainfall areas.

Accumulates in the plant

Adsorbed by mineral portion of soil. Slowly leached.

LC50 Chironomus decorus (Midge, fourth instar) 1,376 mg B/L/48 hr /Conditions of bioassay not specified in source examined/

LC50 Daphnia magna (Water flea, neonate) 141 mg B/L/48 hr /Conditions of bioassay not specified in source examined/

LC50 Gambusia affinis (Western mosquitofish) 346 mg/L/24 hr; static /formulated product/

LC50 Gambusia affinis (Western mosquitofish) 236 mg/L/48 hr; static /formulated product/

For more Ecotoxicity Values (Complete) data for SODIUM TETRABORATE (10 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

/AQUATIC SPECIES/ Acute toxicity evaluations of waterborne sodium tetraborate resulted in 48 hr LC50 values of 141 and 1376 mg boron for neonate Daphnia magna and fourth instar Chironomus decorus, respectively. Chronic sublethal studies demonstrated a significant decrease in C. decorus growth rate at 20 mg B/L. Further studies showed that increasing water hardness (10.6 to 170 mg/L as CaCo3) and sulfate (10.2 to 323.4 mg SO4-2/L) concentrations did not affect boron toxicity to D. magna. These results, in conjunction with a review of the literature, suggest that aquatic macrophytes may be more sensitive to boron than macroinvertebrates...

/AQUATIC SPECIES/ Laboratory studies were undertaken to evaluate the toxicity of waterborne boron to two key freshwater macroinvertebrates and to evaluate the effects of water hardness and sulfate on boron toxicity. Acute toxicity evaluations of waterborne sodium tetraborate resulted in 48 hr LC50 values of 141 and 1376 mg B/L for neonate Daphnia magna and fourth instar Chironomus decorus, respectively. Chronic sublethal studies demonstrated a significant decrease in C. decorus growth rate at 20 mg B/L. Further studies showed that increasing water hardness (10.6 to 170 mg/L as CaCO3) and sulfate (10.2 to 325.4 mg SO4(-2)/L) concentrations did not affect boron toxicity to D. magna.

The substance is harmful to aquatic organisms.

SODIUM TETRABORATE, Na2B4O7, USUALLY OCCURS AS BORAX, WHICH IS THE DECAHYDRATE MINERAL DEPOSITED BY EVAPORATION OF SALT LAKES IN TERTIARY PERIODS. IT IS ALSO MINED AS MINERALS COLEMANITE ... & KERNITE ...

Terrestrial Fate: Average persistence at recommended rates is one or more years, depending on soil type and rainfall. Less persistent in acid soils and in high rainfall areas.

Accumulates in the plant

Adsorbed by mineral portion of soil. Slowly leached.

Sodium borate and boric acid are used in various cosmetic products, including make-up, skin and hair care preparations, deodorants, moisturizing creams, breath fresheners, and shaving creams; concentrations may be up to 5%(1).

SRP: The most favorable course of action is to use an alternative chemical product with less inherent propensity for occupational exposure or environmental contamination. Recycle any unused portion of the material for its approved use or return it to the manufacturer or supplier. Ultimate disposal of the chemical must consider: the material's impact on air quality; potential migration in soil or water; effects on animal, aquatic, and plant life; and conformance with environmental and public health regulations.

R: 60-61; S: 53-45; Symbol: T