Material Safety Data Sheet
DATE OF ISSUE: May 2008
Supersedes: May 2000 version
Borax Decahydrate
1 Chemical product and company identification
Product name: Borax Manufactured by:
Grades: Technical, NF, SQ U.S. Borax Inc.
Product use: Industrial manufacturing
14486 Borax Road
Chemical Formula: Na2B4O7·10H2O
Boron, CA 93516-2000, USA
Chemical name/synonyms: Sodium tetraborate decahydrate,
disodium tetraborate +1 (760) 762 7000
decahydrate, borax decahydrate,
Borax 10 Mol EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBER:
Chemical family: Inorganic borates U.S. & Canada ………...………... (866) 786 3439
CAS registry number: 1303-96-4 Outside the U.S. & Canada……. (661) 284 5200
(Refer to Section 15 for TSCA/DSL Chemical inventory listing)
2 Composition/information on ingredients
This product contains greater than 99 percent (%) Sodium Canadian Controlled Products Regulations of the Hazardous
tetraborate decahydrate, Na2B4O7·10H2O, which is hazardous Products Act (WHMIS), based on animal chronic toxicity studies.
under the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard and under the (Refer to Sections 3 and 11 for details on hazards).
3 Hazard identification
Emergency overview Ingestion: May be harmful if swallowed. Products containing
Borax is a white, odorless, powder substance that is not Borax are not intended for ingestion. Borax has a low acute
flammable, combustible, or explosive and has low acute oral and toxicity. Small amounts (e.g., a teaspoon) swallowed accidentally
dermal toxicity. are not likely to cause effects; swallowing amounts larger than that
Potential ecological effects may cause gastrointestinal symptoms.
Large amounts of Borax can be harmful to plants and other Cancer: Borax is not a known carcinogen.
species. Therefore, releases to the environment should be Reproductive/developmental: Suspected of damaging fertility or
minimized. the unborn child. Animal ingestion studies in several species, at
high doses, indicate that borates cause reproductive and
Potential health effects developmental effects. A human study of occupational exposure to
Routes of exposure: Inhalation is the most significant route of borate dust showed no adverse effect on reproduction.
exposure in occupational and other settings. Dermal exposure is Target organs: No target organ has been identified in humans.
not usually a concern because Borax is poorly absorbed through High dose, animal ingestion studies indicate the testes are the
intact skin. target organs in male animals.
Inhalation: Occasional mild irritation effects to the nose and Signs and symptoms of exposure: Symptoms of accidental
throat may occur from inhalation of Borax dust at levels greater over-exposure to Borax might include nausea, vomiting and
than 10 mg/m3. diarrhea, with delayed effects of skin redness and peeling.
Eye contact: Causes serious eye irritation. These symptoms have been associated with the accidental
Skin contact: Borax does not cause irritation to intact skin. overexposure to the chemically related substance boric acid.
(Refer to Section 11 for details on Toxicological data).
4 First aid measures
Inhalation: If symptoms such as nose or throat irritation are Note to physicians: Observation only is required for adult
observed, remove person to fresh air. ingestion in the range of 4-8 grams of Borax. For ingestion of
Eye contact: Use eye wash fountain or fresh water to cleanse larger amounts, maintain adequate kidney function and force
the eye. If irritation persists for more than 30 minutes, seek fluids. Gastric lavage is recommended for symptomatic patients
medical attention. only. Hemodialysis should be reserved for massive acute ingestion
Skin contact: No treatment necessary because non-irritating. or patients with renal failure. Boron analyses of urine or blood are
Ingestion: Swallowing small quantities (one teaspoon) will only useful for documenting exposure and should not be used to
cause no harm to healthy adults. If larger amounts are swallowed, evaluate severity of poisoning or to guide treatment1.
give two glasses of water to drink and seek medical attention. (Refer to Section 11 for details).
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Borax Decahydrate
5 Fire-fighting measures
General hazard: None, because Borax is not flammable, Flammability classification (29 CFR 1910.1200): Nonflammable
combustible or explosive. The product is itself a flame retardant. solid.
Extinguishing media: Any fire extinguishing media may be used
on nearby fires.
6 Accidental release measures
General: Borax is a water-soluble white powder that may, at high Spillage into water: Where possible, remove any intact
concentrations, cause damage to trees or vegetation by root containers from the water. Advise local water authority that none of
absorption. the affected water should be used for irrigation or for the
(Refer to Section 12 for specific information on Ecological). abstraction of potable water until natural dilution returns the boron
Land spill: Vacuum, shovel or sweep up Borax and place in value to its normal environmental background level.
containers for disposal in accordance with applicable local (Refer to Sections 12, 13 and 15 for additional information).
regulations. Avoid contamination of water bodies during cleanup Borax is a non-hazardous waste when spilled or disposed of, as
and disposal. Personal protective equipment is not needed to defined in the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
cleanup land spills. regulations (40 CFR 261).
(Refer to Section 15 for additional references).
7 Handling and storage
General: No special handling precautions are required, but dry, Storage temperature: Ambient
indoor storage is recommended. To maintain package integrity
and to minimize caking of the product, bags should be handled on Storage pressure: Atmospheric
a first-in, first-out basis. Good housekeeping procedures should
be followed to minimize dust generation and accumulation. Special sensitivity: Moisture (caking)
8 Exposure controls/personal protection
Engineering controls: Use local exhaust ventilation to keep Occupational exposure limits: Borax is treated by OSHA as
airborne concentrations of Borax dust below permissible exposure “Particulate Not Otherwise Classified” (PNOR). CAL OSHA has
levels. established a Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for borates (tetra,
Personal protection: Where airborne concentrations are sodium salts). ACGIH, which is not a regulatory agency, has
expected to exceed exposure limits, NIOSH/MSHA certified established a Threshold Limit Value (TLV) for borates.
respirators should be used. Eye goggles and gloves are not
required for normal industrial exposures, but may be warranted if OSHA/PEL (total dust): 15 mg/m3
environment is excessively dusty. OSHA/PEL (respirable dust): 5 mg/m3
Cal OSHA/PEL: 5 mg/m3
ACGIH/TLV: 2 mg/m3
9 Physical and chemical properties
Appearance: White, odourless crystalline solid Melting point: 62°C (144°F) (heated in closed space)
Specific Gravity: 1.71 Molecular weight: 381.37
Vapour pressure: Negligible at 20°C pH @ 20°C: 9.3 (0.1% solution); 9.2 (1.0% solution);
9.3 (4.7% solution)
Solubility (water): 4.71% @ 20°C; 65.64% @ 100°C
10 Stability and reactivity
General: Borax is a stable product, but when heated it loses Hazardous decomposition: None.
water, eventually forming anhydrous borax (Na2B4O7).
B
Incompatible materials and conditions to avoid: Reaction with
strong reducing agents, such as metal hydrides or alkali metals,
will generate hydrogen gas, which could create an explosive
hazard.
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Borax Decahydrate
11 Toxicological Information
Acute toxicity Other
Ingestion: Low acute oral toxicity; LD50 in rats is 4,500 to 6,000 Reproductive/developmental toxicity: Animal feeding studies in
mg/kg of body weight. rat, mouse and dog, at high doses, have demonstrated effects on
Skin/dermal: Low acute dermal toxicity; LD50 in rabbits is greater fertility and testes2. Studies with the chemically related boric acid
than 2,000 mg/kg of body weight. Borax is poorly absorbed in the rat, mouse and rabbit, at high doses, demonstrate
through intact skin. developmental effects on the fetus, including fetal weight loss and
Inhalation: Low acute inhalation toxicity; LC50 in rats is greater minor skeletal variations3,4. The doses administered were many
than 2.0 mg/L (or g/m3). times in excess of those to which humans would normally be
Skin irritation: Non-irritant. exposed5.
Eye irritation: Draize test in rabbits produced eye irritation Carcinogenicity/mutagenicity: No evidence of carcinogenicity in
effects. Therefore, Borax may be considered to be an eye irritant. mice6. No mutagenic activity was observed for boric acid in a
Sensitization: Borax is not a skin sensitizer. battery of short-term mutagenicity assays.
Human data: Human epidemiological studies show no increase in
pulmonary disease in occupational populations with chronic
exposures to boric acid dust and sodium borate dust. A recent
epidemiology study under the conditions of normal occupational
exposure to borate dusts indicated no effect on fertility7.
12 Ecological information
Ecotoxicity data Fish toxicity:9-11
General: Boron (B) is the element in sodium tetraborate Sea-water:
decahydrate (Borax) which is used by convention to report borate Dab, Limanda limanda
ecological effects. To convert Borax into the equivalent boron (B) 96-hr LC50 = 74 mg B/L
content, multiply by 0.1134. Boron occurs naturally in sea water, Fresh water:
freshwater and soils. Sea water concentrations are about 5 mg Flannelmouth sucker, Catostomas latipinnis
B/L. Most freshwater concentrations are below 1 mg B/L. Soil 96 hr LC50 = 125 mg B/L
concentrations range from 10 to 300 mg B/kg dry soil, but not all Zebrafish, Brachydanio rerio
boron is bioavailable in soil. Soil concentrations reflect the local 34-day NOEC = 5.6 mg B/L (lowest value)
types of rock; sedimentary rocks have higher concentrations of
boron than igneous rocks. Boron is an essential micronutrient for Ecotoxicity to Terrestrial Organisms
healthy growth of plants and is often applied to agricultural crops Plant toxicity: Short term tests of shoot length report 7-10 day
at rates up to 2.3 mg B/kg soil. It has been shown to be essential IC50 values of 452 to 1603 mg B/kg soil (dry wt) for 12 plant
to fish & frogs. But, it can be harmful, especially to boron-sensitive species.12 The most sensitive end-point for long term plant studies
plants at high concentrations. Care should be used to minimize reported a NOEC of 1.6 mg B/kg-soil for the bean Phaseolus
release of Borax to the environment. vulgaris.13 Studies also indicate that soil concentrations of less
Ecotoxicity to Aquatic Organisms than 2 mg B/kg soil could be deficient in boron as a plant
Based on data from algae, invertebrates, and fish, this product is micronutrient, affecting almost half of those species tested.
not classified as hazardous to the environment.
Algal toxicity:8 Terrestrial Invertebrate toxicity:14-15
Green algae, Selenastrum capricornutum Earthworm, Eisenia andrei
72 hr EC50 (biomass) = 40 mg B/L (lowest value) 56-63 day NOEC = 54 mg B/kg dry soil (geometric mean, 4
72 hr NOEC (based on growth) = 17.5 mg B/L (lowest value) tests)
Collembolan, Folsomia candida & Onychirius folsomi
Aquatic Invertebrate toxicity:9 35 day NOEC = 31-37 mg B/kg dry soil
Daphnid, Daphnia magna (Straus)
48-hour EC50 = 133 mg B/L (lowest value) Environmental fate data
21-day NOEC = 6 mg B/L (lowest chronic value) Persistence/degradation: Borax is an inorganic substance and
21-day NOEC = 10.5 mg B/L (geometric mean, 6 tests) does not biodegrade. Under environmental conditions, borates
Larval midge, Chironomus riparius decompose to undissociated boric acid. Bioaccumulation: Based
28-day NOEC = 180 mg B/L (spiked sediment) on laboratory and field data, borates do not bioaccumulate or
Inhibition Respiration of Activated Sludge10 biomagnify through the food chain. Mobility: Borates are water
LC50 = 175 mg B/L (3 hr Standard Test) soluble and do not strongly adsorb to soil or sediment. Log Pow =
-0.757 at 25° C. Borates should be considered leachable through
normal soil.
13 Disposal considerations
Disposal guidance: Small quantities of Borax can usually be RCRA (40 CFR 261): Borax is not listed under any sections of the
disposed of at landfill sites. No special disposal treatment is Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
required, but local authorities should be consulted about any NPRI (Canada): Borax is not listed on the Canadian
specific local requirements. Tonnage quantities of product should, National Pollutant Release Inventory.
if possible, be used for an appropriate application. (Refer to Section 15 for additional regulatory information.)
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Borax Decahydrate
14 Transport information
International transportation: Does not have a UN Number, and TDG Canadian transportation: Borax is not regulated under the
is not regulated under international rail, road, water or air transport Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG).
regulations.
15 Regulatory information
OSHA/Cal OSHA: This MSDS document meets the requirements Clean Air Act (Montreal Protocol): Borax was not manufactured
of both OSHA (29 CFR 1910.1200) and Cal OSHA (Title 8 CCR with and does not contain any Class I or Class II ozone depleting
5194 (g)) hazard communication standards. Refer to Section 8 for substances.
regulatory exposure limits. Clean Water Act (CWA) (Federal Water Pollution Control
WHMIS classification: Sodium tetraborate decahydrate (Borax) Act): 33 USC 1251 et seq.
is classified as Class D - Division 2A under Canadian WHMIS a) Sodium tetraborate decahydrate (Borax) is not itself a
guidelines. discharge covered by any water quality criteria of
Chemical inventory listing: Sodium tetraborate decahydrate Section 304 of the CWA, 33 USC 1314.
(Borax), CAS# 1303-96-4, appears on several chemical inventory b) It is not on the Section 307 List of Priority Pollutants, 33
lists (including the EPA TSCA inventory 1303-96-4), Canadian USC 1317, 40 CFR 129.
DSL (1303-96-4), European EINECS (215-540-4), Japanese MITI c) It is not on the Section 311 List of Hazardous
(1-69), Australian and Korean lists (9212-848) under the CAS No. Substances, 33 USC 1321, 40 CFR 116.
representing this inorganic salt. Canadian drinking water guideline: An “Interim Maximum
RCRA: Sodium tetraborate decahydrate is not listed as a Acceptable Concentration” (IMAC) for boron is currently set at 5
hazardous waste under any sections of the Resource mg B/L.
Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) or regulations (40 CFR IARC: The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) (a
261 et seq). unit of the World Health Organization) does not list or categorize
Superfund: CERCLA/SARA. Sodium tetraborate decahydrate is Sodium tetraborate decahydrate as a carcinogen.
not listed under CERCLA or its 1986 amendments, SARA, NTP Biennial Report on Carcinogens: Sodium tetraborate
including substances listed under Section 313 of SARA, Toxic decahydrate is not listed.
Chemicals, 42 USC 11023, 40 CFR 372.65, Section 302 of SARA, OSHA carcinogen: Sodium tetraborate decahydrate is not listed.
Extremely Hazardous Substances, 42 USC 11002, 40 CFR 355, California Proposition 65: Sodium tetraborate decahydrate
or the CERCLA Hazardous Substances list, 42 USC 9604, 40 (Borax) is not listed on the Proposition 65 list of carcinogens or
CFR 302. reproductive toxicants.
Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA): Sodium tetraborate Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act: Pursuant to 21 CFR
decahydrate is not regulated under the SDWA, 42 USC 300g-1, 175.105, 176.180 and 181.30, Borax is approved by the FDA for
40 CFR 141 et seq. Consult state and local regulations for use in adhesive components of packaging materials, as a
possible water quality advisories regarding boron compounds. component of paper coatings on such materials, or for use in the
manufacture thereof, which materials are expected to come in
contact with dry food products.
16 Other information
References Product label text hazard information*:
1. Litovitz T L, Norman S A, Veltri J C, Annual Report of the • Do not ingest.
American Association of Poison Control Centers Data Collection Eye Irritant
System. 1986. Am. J. Emerg. Med. 4: 427-458. • Ingestion may cause reproductive harm or birth defects based on
2. Weir R J & Fisher R S 1972. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 23: 351- animal data.
364. • Avoid contamination of food or feed.
3. Fail et al. 1991. Fund. Appl. Toxicol. 17: 225-239. • Not for use in food, drugs or pesticides+.
4. Price et al. 1995. J. Am. Coll. Toxicol. 14: (2), 173 (Abst. P-17). • Refer to MSDS.
5. Murray F J, Dec 1995. Regulatory Toxicol. Pharmacol. • KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.
6. National Toxicology Program (NTP), 1987. Toxicology and *The WHMIS panel format is used for Canadian product.
carcinogenesis studies of boric acid in B6C3F1 mice, Tech. +Except for NF (pharmaceutical grade) products.
Report Ser. No. 324, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services. National Fire Protection Assoc. (NFPA) Classification:
NIH Publ. No. 88-2580. Health 1
7. Whorton et al., 1994. Occup. Environ. Med. 51: 761-767. Flammability 0
8. Hanstveit, AO, & H Oldersma, 2000. TNO Nutrition and Food Reactivity 0
Research Institute, The Netherlands. TNO report V99.157. Hazardous Materials Information Systems (HMIS):
Unpublished report to Borax Europe, Ltd Red: (Flammability) 0
9. HERA, 2005. Risk assessment of boric acid. Yellow: (Reactivity) 0
www.heraproject.com. Blue: (Acute Health) 1*
10. Hanstvelt AO and JA Schoonmade, 2000. TNO Nutrition and *Chronic Effects
Food Science Research Institute, The Netherlands. TNO report For further information contact:
V99.156 Unpublished report to Borax Europe, Ltd. U.S. Borax Inc.
11. Hooftman et al. 2000. TNO Nutrition and Food Research Product Stewardship & Sustainability Department
Institute, The Netherlands. TNO report V99-168 Unpublished +1 (303) 713 5000
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Borax Decahydrate
report to Borax Europe, Ltd.
12. Aquaterra Environmental, 1998. Guelph, Canada.
Unpublished report to Environment Canada.
13. Gupta UC and JA Cutcliffe, 1984. Can J Soi Sci. 64: 571-576.
14. STANTEC/AEC 2003, 2004. Guelph, Canada. Unpublished
report to Environment Canada.
15. EPFL, 2003. Lausanne, Switzerland Unpublished report to
Environment Canada.
For general information on the toxicology of inorganic borates,
see Patty’s Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology, 5th Ed. Vol. III,
(2001), Chap. 45, Boron; ECETOC Tech. Report No. 63 (1995).
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