Is boric acid toxic?

Boric acid is also an acid. It is a weak acid and has certain toxicity. If taken orally, it may cause death. Generally speaking, boric acid is widely used in medicine. It is also often used as an insecticide for some pests, as a pH regulator, etc. Boric acid is also often used in the production of cosmetics, for the production of antibacterial agents, etc. Let us learn about this aspect below.

Is Boric Acid Toxic?

Boric acid is a weak acid. When sodium hydroxide splashes on the skin, you can apply about 5% boric acid solution. Its acidity is weaker than acetic acid and it is toxic. Severe cases of internal ingestion can cause death. The minimum lethal dose is: 640 mg/kg orally for adults, 8.6 g/kg through the skin, 29 mg/kg intravenously; 200 mg/kg orally for infants. The maximum allowable concentration in the air is 10mg/m3. Contact is generally fine, but it also depends on the concentration. If the concentration is too high, it will not be okay.

use

If you are splashed with strong alkali (NaOH or KOH) in the laboratory, in addition to flushing with plenty of water (H2O), you should also apply boric acid solution. To neutralize the remaining strong alkali. This is one of the most basic and closest uses to life. (If there is no boric acid solution around and a strong alkali is splashed on you, you can use carbonic acid in an emergency, but boric acid is preferred because it is also an acid, but a weaker acid than the carbonic acid in cola.) Prepare the buffer solution. Preparation of various borate salts. Insecticide for cockroaches and black beetles in carpets. Used as a hemostatic and preservative in medicine. It is used as pH regulator, disinfectant, antibacterial preservative, etc.; it is used to prepare borates, boric acid esters, optical glass, paints, pigments, boric acid soaps, leather finishing agents, printing and dyeing auxiliaries, and medical disinfectants, etc.

Personal health products

National Pharmaceutical Grade (NF) boric acid is used in cosmetics, sanitary products and medicines. It is also mixed with borax to make pH buffer solutions. As a cross-linking agent, emulsified paraffin can also be used as an antibacterial agent.