Agent Name |
Boron |
CAS Number |
7440-42-8 |
Formula |
B |
Major Category |
Other Classes |
Category |
Elements, Nonmetallic |
Description |
Crystals or yellow to brown solid; [Sax] Sold as filaments, powders, whiskers, and crystals; [Hawley] |
Sources/Uses |
A micronutrient for plants; Used to make alloys, neutron absorbers, oxygen scavengers, composite materials, semiconductors, and rocket fuels; [Hawley] No known function in animal cells, but present at about 1 ppm; Human diet contains about 10-20 mg/day; [Ullmann] |
Comments |
Powder is a dust explosion hazard. Toxic by ingestion; [Sax] May cause irritation, but not generally considered hazardous to handle boric acid and borates; [Ullmann] Boron deficiency may cause reproductive injury in fish; Excess boric acid causes testicular damage in high-dose feeding studies of animals; [ACGIH] See "Boric acid." |
Exposure Assessment |
Explanatory Notes |
mp= 2190 deg C; [Sax] For exposure limits, see "Boric acid" and Boron oxide." |
Links to Other NLM Databases |
Health Studies |
Human Health Effects from Hazardous Substances Data Bank: BORON, ELEMENTAL
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