Blue-Green Algae see Algae

Boric Acid
P Lank and M Wahl, Illinois Poison Center, Chicago, IL, USA
Ó 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
This article is a revision of the previous edition article by Michael Wahl, volume 1, pp 329–330, Ó 2005, Elsevier Inc.

l Name: Boric acid It has also been used as an antiseptic and was found in
l Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number: CAS 10043- numerous commercial products.
35-3
l Synonyms: Boracic acid, Orthoboric acid, Hydrogen borate,
Borofax, Three elephant, NCI-C36417 Environmental Fate and Behavior
l Molecular Formula: H3BO3
Physicochemical Properties
l Chemical Structure:
Boric acid is odorless and colorless crystals or a white powder. It
OH is soluble in water at 5.6 g per 100 ml and solubility increases
as the water temperature increases. It is a weak acid (pKa of
HO B 9.15) and exists in aqueous solutions below pH of 7 as
undisocciated boric acid. The octanol–water coefficient (Kow) is
OH 0.175. The density of boric acid is 1.4. The vapor pressure at
Boric acid standard temperature and pressure is negligible.

Partition Behavior in Water, Sediment, and Soil

Uses
Boric acid and borate salts are present in soils throughout the
Boric acid is used as a fireproofing agent for wood, as earth. In soil, inorganic boron compounds can react with
a preservative, and as an antiseptic. It is used in the manufac- moisture to form various borates. Boric acid has greatest
ture of glass, pottery, enamels, glazes, cosmetics, cements, adsorption to soil at pH of 7.5–9.0. Presence of iron or
porcelain, leather, carpets, hats, soaps, artificial gems, and in aluminum oxides affect mobility. Borate concentrations are
tanning, printing, dyeing, painting, and photography. It is highest in seawater (averaging 4.5 mg l 1), although drinking
a constituent of nickel plating baths and electric condensers, water concentrations can reach 3.28 mg l 1. Boric acid and salts
and it is used for impregnating wicks and hardening steel. In of borate may reach groundwater because of their high water
laboratory procedures, boric acid is used in the preparation of solubility and their variable soil adsorption.
buffer solutions.
Boric acid is also used as a fungicide and as an insecticide
Environmental Persistency
powder. Domestic use may include its application as an
insecticide for crawling insects such as roaches. In medicine, it Boric acid decomposes at temperatures above 100  C. This
had been widely used as a disinfectant and a constituent of produces boric anhydride. The solution of boric anhydride is
baby powders, antiseptics, diaper rash ointments, eye washes, a weak acid. Boric acid and borate salts are removed from soils
gargles, and a variety of other consumer products for its mild by leaching and uptake by plants. The low volatility of boric
antiseptic property. Its routine medical use, however, has fallen acid and other borates results in only small amounts of these
out of favor because of its relatively weak antiseptic action and compounds being present in the earth’s atmosphere. Particu-
its potential for toxicity, although it may still be used to treat lates are removed through precipitation and direct deposition.
recurrent vulvovaginitis. Airborne borate particles have a half-life of a few days
depending upon the size of the particle and conditions in the
atmosphere. Boric acid and borates are not thought to degrade
Background Information or transform through photolysis, oxidation, or hydrolysis in the
atmosphere.
Boric acid exists in natural deposits as a mineral, sassolite. It is
also found in hot mineral water sources. The minerals are
extracted with sulfuric acid and crystalline boric acid is sepa- Exposure Routes and Pathways
rated. Borates have been used since antiquity for cleaning and
as food preservatives among other things. Boric acid was first Accidental ingestion and subcutaneous routes are the primary
registered for use in the United States as an insecticide in 1948. exposure pathways. The maximum workplace concentration is

Encyclopedia of Toxicology, Volume 1 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-386454-3.00700-4 533

534 Boric Acid

10 mg m 3. The maximum concentration in water used in susceptible to boric acid intoxication. Symptoms in extremely
fisheries is 0.1 mg l 1. Boric acid can be absorbed via ingestion large doses will be similar to those seen in chronic over-
and inhalation or through application to damaged or abraded exposure (see below).
skin. Exposure from lavage and enema can also occur.

Chronic Toxicity (or Exposure)

Toxicokinetics
Animal
Water emulsifying and hydrophobic ointments containing Dogs and rats were able to tolerate boric acid doses of up to
boric acid liberate only small amounts within 24 h compared 350 ppm for 2 years. Larger doses of boric acid (1750 ppm)
with a near total liberation from a jelly. Boric acid is readily over a period of time have been shown to cause testicular
absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, mucous membranes, damage and sterility in rats and dogs.
and abraded skin. Boric acid is excreted unchanged in urine
with w50% excreted in the first 12 h and the remainder
Human
excreted over a period of a few days. The half-life of boric acid
given orally is estimated to be 21 h. The fatal dose of boric acid Toxicity may occur after ingestion, injection, application to
is estimated to be 15–20 g in an adult and w5 or 6 g in an damaged skin (e.g., abrasion, burns, or diaper rash), lavage, or
infant, with suggested fatal serum concentrations of at least enema. Exposure can also occur with inhalation. Severe
400 mg ml 1 (normal range: 0–2 mg ml 1). systemic toxicity is most likely to occur from repeated dermal
application to damaged skin; this has been reported mainly in
the treatment of diaper rash in young children. Symptoms
Mechanism of Toxicity include nausea, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, severe colic, and
abdominal pain. Low levels of boric acid ingestion may lead to
The exact mechanism of toxicity is not known. Boric acid can dry skin and mucous membranes, followed by the appearance
inhibit production of adenosine triphosphate, a cellular form of a red tongue, patchy alopecia, cracked lips, and conjuncti-
of energy. vitis. Infertility among men is possible.
No major toxicological distinctions between boric acid and
its salts are recognized in human beings.
Acute and Short-Term Toxicity (or Exposure)
Animal
In Vitro Toxicity Data
Ingestion of boric acid by animals results in excessive saliva-
tion, thirst, fever, vomiting, and diarrhea. Seizures and other No mutagenic effects have been seen in Salmonella typhi strains
neurologic toxicity occur in large ingestions. The onset of TA98 and TA100 via the preincubation method.
toxicity and clinically apparent effects is typically within only
a few hours of ingestion. The LD50 (oral) of boric acid in rats is
4550 mg kg 1. Dogs are more sensitive to boric acid with the Immunotoxicity
LD50 (oral) >631 mg kg 1.
Exposure to boric acid through the skin can cause immune-
Human mediated reactions including dermatitis.
Acute boric acid poisoning is extremely rare. In large ingestions
or overdoses, gastrointestinal symptoms including nausea, Genotoxicity
vomiting, and diarrhea may occur. The diarrhea and vomitus of
a patient with boric acid ingestion is characteristically described No mutagenic effects have been seen in S. typhi strains TA98
as being greenish blue. This may be followed by restlessness, and TA100 via the preincubation method.
delirium, headache, tremors, and generalized convulsions
usually followed by weakness and coma. There is fever and
tachypnea followed by Cheyne–Stokes-type respirations and Reproductive Toxicity
respiratory arrest.
Changes on the skin include an erythematous skin eruption, Developmental toxicity occurs when boric acid is given to
with papules or vesicles appearing between the fingers and on pregnant female rats. At doses that are nontoxic to the mother,
the back of the hands initially and eventually becoming skeletal abnormalities and low birth-weights occurred in the
generalized enough to give a ‘boiled lobster’ appearance. The offspring. Fetal malformations occurred in rabbits fed
skin lesions may undergo bullous formation, desquamation, 250 mg kg 1 day 1 of boric acid during pregnancy.
excoriation, and sloughing. Hypothermia often occurs.
Renal injury can occur, usually in the form of renal tubular
necrosis, and can be demonstrated by the presence of oliguria, Carcinogenicity
albuminuria, and eventually anuria. Signs of meningeal irrita-
tion, oliguria, and circulatory collapse may be followed by Boric acid is not classified as a human carcinogen by the
death within 5 days. Infants and young children are more American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists.
 Boric Acid 535

Chronic exposure studies in rats and mice also indicate that Exposure Guidelines
boric acid is not carcinogenic.
The threshold limit value (inhalable fraction) is 2 mg m 3 as
a time-weighted average. The short-term exposure limit for
Clinical Management exposures that are only likely to last 15 min is 6 mg m 3. The
maximum workplace concentration is 10 mg m3. The
There is no specific antidote. Supportive care should be maximum concentration in water used in fisheries is
instituted for all patients with history of serious boric acid 0.1 mg l 1. The recommended exposure limits for exposure
exposure. Substantial recent ingestions may benefit from over a 40-h workweek are 1 mg sodium tetraborate (anhy-
administration of activated charcoal. Fluid and electrolyte drous) per m3 and 5 mg boric acid per m3.
balance, correction of acid/base disturbance, and control of The US Food and Drug Administration has set a reference
seizures are essential to therapy. Case reports indicate that dose (RfD) for boron compounds at 0.2 mg kg 1 day 1. The
hemodialysis as well as forced diuresis with furosemide and Health Advisory level for a 10-kg child is 4 mg boron per liter
very close monitoring of fluid repletion may be used to treat for one day exposure and 0.9 mg boron per liter for a 10-day
acute boric acid poisoning. Sodium bicarbonate may be used exposure. The drinking water equivalent is 7 mg boron per
for any metabolic acidosis. liter of water.
The tolerable daily intake (TDI) of boric acid as estimated
by the National Academy of Sciences Food and Nutrition Board
Ecotoxicology is 0.32 mg kg 1 day 1. The TDI estimated by the World Health
Organization is 0.4 mg kg 1 day 1.
Freshwater and Sediment Organism Toxicity
Boric acid has an LC50 of 65–88 mg l 1 in short-term exposure
studies (24 h) for rainbow trout. Bluegill fish are the most See also: TGN1412; Freons; Mouse Lymphoma Assay.
sensitive freshwater fish to boric acid toxicity with a LD50 of
41 mg l 1 for 24-h exposures. Boric acid inhibits the growth of
green algae (Chlorella vulgaris) at concentrations of 10.6 mg l 1
over a 3–4-month exposure period.
Further Reading
Terrestrial Organism Toxicity (Including Plants) Bolt, H.M., Basaran, N., Duydu, Y., 2012. Human environmental and occupational
exposures to boric acid: reconciliation with experimental reproductive toxicity data.
Boric acid acts as a poison in the stomach of insects. It also J. Toxicol. Environ. Health 75 (8–10), 508–514.
affects the nervous system and the powder is abrasive to their Litovitz, T.L., Klein-Schwartz, W., Oderda, G.M., 1988. Clinical manifestations
exoskeletons. Boric acid also acts as a herbicide; causing the of toxicity in a series of 784 boric acid ingestions. Am. J. Emerg. Med. 6,
desiccation of plants. While boron is an essential nutrient for 209–213.
Naderi, A.S., Palmer, B.F., 2006. Successful treatment of a rare case of boric acid
the growth of plants, excessive boron, boric acid, and borate
overdose with hemodialysis. Am. J. Kidney Dis. 48 (6), e95–7.
salts uptake can cause toxicity. Yellowing, splitting of the leaf Restuccio, A., Mortensen, M.E., Kelley, M., 1992. Fatal ingestion of boric acid in an
and of bark, and necrosis of root tips occur when soil boron adult. Am. J. Emerg. Med. 10, 545–547.
levels are excessive. Teshima, D., Taniyama, T., Oishi, R., 2001. Usefulness of forced diuresis for acute
Plants take up boric acid and borate salts as undissociated boric acid poisoning in an adult. J. Clin. Pharm. Ther. 26, 387–390.
Teshima, D., Morishita, K., Ueda, Y., et al., 1992. Clinical management of
boric acid through active transport when the levels of boric acid boric acid ingestion: pharmacokinetic assessment of efficacy of hemodialysis
in the plants are low. Passive diffusion occurs at higher soil for treatment of acute boric acid poisoning. J. Pharmacobiodyn. 15,
concentrations. Boron and its salts are transported to the leaves 287–294.
where water evaporates leaving the compounds behind to
accumulate in the leaves. Boric acid and its salts are immobile
in the phloem of plants and little moves to other parts such as Relevant Websites
stems and fruits.
While most vegetable crops are tolerant of high concentra- http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/borictech.html – Boric Acid Fact Sheet – including
information about toxicity in animals and humans including developmental and
tions of boron in soil and water tubers and cereal crops are less other effects.
so and citrus and nut trees are most susceptible to boron and http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pi128 – University of Florida website – pesticide profile for boric
boric acid toxicity. acid. Includes toxicity information.