Borax Poisoning
Borax, sodium borate, or boric acid has multiple uses in products such as pesticides, fertilizers, detergents, water softeners, some paints, rat poison, astringents, antiseptics, and pharmaceuticals.
-
Poisoning
-
Acute borax poisoning typically occurs when someone swallows a borax-containing product, like roach powder. Chronic poisoning can result in those who have regular exposure to it or who use it regularly.
Symptoms of Poisoning
-
Major symptoms of toxicity include bluish green vomit, diarrhea, and a bright red skin rash. Additional symptoms may consist of blisters, fever, low blood pressure, drowsiness, convulsions, coma, collapse, or decreased urination.
-
Recommended Actions
-
If borax gets on your skin, wash it off completely. If you swallow it, go to the emergency department or call the National Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222. Be ready to report the name of the product, time and amount you swallowed, and your age, weight, and condition.
Emergency Department Treatment
-
After an assessment of your vital signs, you will receive treatment depending on the severity of your symptoms. Possible measures include oral or intravenous (IV) fluids, stomach tube and kidney dialysis to help you eliminate the boric acid from your system.
Environmental Protection Agency
-
According to the EPA, borax causes neurotoxicity, citing reports of poisoning in human infants who ingested a mixture of borax and honey. Researchers do not conduct actual toxicity studies on humans. Data from animal studies show borax toxicity effects on blood and the reproductive systems of dogs, rats, and mice.
-
