Name

Borax

Has some considerations

Description

Borax, also known as sodium borate or sodium tetraborate, is mostly known for its laundry-cleaning properties. It can also be used as a food additive.

Benefits

Borax can emulsify or saponify oils to a certain degree and is used as a pH adjuster.

Considerations

• Acute Toxicity When ingested, sodium borate can become toxic as it accumulates in the body. It causes vomiting, fatigue and kidney failure. • Genotoxic When ingested, borax may be genotoxic. • Skin Absorption Small amounts of borax may be absorbed through the skin. • Inconclusive Reproductive Effects Some animal studies have found exposure to borax caused developmental and reproductive effects. However, research indicates that even high workplace exposure could not reproduce these effects in humans. However, the EU does classify borax as a reproductive toxin.

Synonyms

1330-43-4 Borax Anhydrous Borax, fused Boric acid (H2B4O7), sodium salt Boron sodium oxide (B4Na2O7) Na2B4O7 Sodium Tetraborate Sodium Tetraborate, Anhydrous Sodiumtetraborate Sodium borate anhydrous Dehybor Granubor Spraybor Sodium biborate Sodium borate Sodium borate, anhydrous Fused borax Sodium pyroborate 8191EN8ZMD Boric acid (H2B4O7), disodium salt Sodium tetraborate anhydrous INS NO.285 Sodium tetraborate (Na2B4O7) 12267-73-1 INS-285 disodium;3,7-dioxido-2,4,6,8,9-pentaoxa-1,3,5,7-tetraborabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane MFCD00081185 E-285 disodium;[oxido(oxoboranyloxy)boranyl]oxy-oxoboranyloxyborinate Komex sodium diborate MFCD00163147 1310383-93-7

Research Sources

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19323026/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19878537/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10050913/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21424392/ https://www.borax.com/BoraxCorp/media/Borax-Main/Resources/Brochures/borates-detergency.pdf https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/10219853#section=Depositor-Supplied-Synonyms

Summary

Safe in laundry, avoid inhalatation, skin use, or ingestion.