Boric Acid/Borax
Boric acid and borax are commonly used in ant traps and for
cockroach control.
Boric acid and sodium borate (borax) is potentially toxic to people
and pets. However serious poisonings in humans have been reported
very rarely from a single acute ingestion. Serious toxicity is more
likely with repeated exposure to raw or abraded skin or from
repeated ingestions. I am not aware of any reports of toxicity in
the avian species from exposure to boric acid or borax.
Boric acid/borax used to be widely used in dusting powders and in a
borax and honey preparation that was given to teething infants on
their soothers. These preparations are no longer recommended for use
in children.
A single large ingestion of boric acid/borax can cause
gastrointestinal tract irritation. Clinical manifestations of
chronic toxicity in humans include red and peeling skin, seizures
and kidney failure.
In rats, the oral LD 50 of boric acid is 2.68 - 4.08 g/kg and for
borax it is 4.5 - 4.98 g/kg which indicates a relatively low order
of acute toxicity.
Boric acid or borax can be mixed with sugar as an ant trap. To
minimize the risk of toxicity from repeated small ingestions by
pets, the containers should be placed in an inaccessible place.
Boric acid/borax is not volatile and will not cause toxicity from
being in the same room as birds, other pets or children. It is
considered one of the safer insecticides.
Gillian Willis
Vancouver, B.C.
Copyright © Gillian A.Willis. Permission to re-use any
part of this text (whole or in part) must be obtained from the
author.