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Diss Factsheets

Administrative data

Description of key information

 Acute oral, dermal and inhalation studies have been performed with boric acid.  Experimental data showed low acute toxicity to boric acid. The mean of the male and female values were obtained from the key study (oral route; Keller 1962). The LD50 is equivalent to 658.9 mg B/kg bw.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Acute toxicity: via oral route

Link to relevant study records
Reference
Endpoint:
acute toxicity: oral
Type of information:
experimental study
Adequacy of study:
key study
Study period:
No data
Reliability:
2 (reliable with restrictions)
Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
other: Meets generally accepted scientific standards with acceptable restrictions.
Qualifier:
according to guideline
Guideline:
other: No data
Deviations:
not specified
Principles of method if other than guideline:
Boric acid was administered orally by gavage to six groups of five male and five female albino Sprague-Dawley rats. The test material was administered as a 50 % w/v suspension in 0.5 % aqueous methyl cellulose at dosage levels of 2.0; 2.5; 3.16; 3.98; 5.01 and 6.31 g/kg bw. Rats were fasted for a period of 3 to 4 h prior to dosage. Animals were observed for mortality and toxic effects at 1, 2, 4, and 24 h and once daily after for a total of 14 days. At teh end of the observation period the surviving animals were weighed sacrificed and autopsies were performed.
GLP compliance:
no
Remarks:
Study pre-dates GLP
Test type:
standard acute method
Limit test:
no
Species:
rat
Strain:
Sprague-Dawley
Sex:
male/female
Details on test animals or test system and environmental conditions:
TEST ANIMALS
- Weight at study initiation: Males: 267 - 302 g; Females: 214 - 248 g
Route of administration:
oral: gavage
Vehicle:
other: 0.5 % aqueous methyl cellulose
Details on oral exposure:
VEHICLE
- Concentration in vehicle: 50 % w/v

MAXIMUM DOSE VOLUME APPLIED: 3450 - 4080 mg/kg bw
Doses:
2.0; 2.5; 3.16; 3.98; 5.01 and 6.31 g/kg bw.
No. of animals per sex per dose:
Five animals/group; no further data
Control animals:
no
Details on study design:
- Duration of observation period following administration: 14 days
- Necropsy of survivors performed: Yes
- Other examinations performed: Clinical signs
Statistics:
Litchfield and Wilcoxon
Sex:
male
Dose descriptor:
LD50
Effect level:
3 450 mg/kg bw
Based on:
test mat.
95% CL:
2 950 - 4 040
Remarks on result:
other: mg boric acid/kg
Sex:
female
Dose descriptor:
LD50
Effect level:
4 080 mg/kg bw
Based on:
test mat.
95% CL:
3 640 - 4 560
Remarks on result:
other: mg boric acid/kg bw
Mortality:
No data
Clinical signs:
other: Symptoms include sings of CNS depression, ataxia, convulsions, laboured breathing or rapid respiration; blood crust around nose, marked diarrhoea and ptosis.
Gross pathology:
Autopsies indicated congestion of lungs, kidneys and adrenals; inflammation of the pyloric portion of stomach and small intestine.
Other findings:
No data
Interpretation of results:
other: no data
Remarks:
Criteria used for interpretation of results: not specified
Conclusions:
The acute oral LD50 of boric acid for male albino rats was 3450 (2950 - 4040) mg boric acid/kg, equivalent to 604 mg B/kg bw. In female albino rats the acute oral LD50 of boric acid was 4080 (3640 - 4560) mg boric acid/kg, equivalent to 714 mg B/kg bw.
Endpoint conclusion
Endpoint conclusion:
no adverse effect observed
Dose descriptor:
LD50
Value:
3 765 mg/kg bw

Acute toxicity: via inhalation route

Link to relevant study records
Reference
Endpoint:
acute toxicity: inhalation
Type of information:
experimental study
Adequacy of study:
key study
Study period:
No data
Reliability:
1 (reliable without restriction)
Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
other: GLP guideline study
Qualifier:
according to guideline
Guideline:
OECD Guideline 403 (Acute Inhalation Toxicity)
Deviations:
no
Qualifier:
according to guideline
Guideline:
other: USEPA FIFRA 40 CFR Part 160
Deviations:
not specified
GLP compliance:
yes
Test type:
standard acute method
Limit test:
yes
Species:
rat
Strain:
Sprague-Dawley
Sex:
male/female
Details on test animals or test system and environmental conditions:
TEST ANIMALS
- Source: Ace Animlas Inc, Boyertown, PA
- Age at study initiation: Young adult
- Weight at study initiation: Males 205 - 255 g, females 179 - 208 g
Route of administration:
inhalation: dust
Type of inhalation exposure:
whole body
Vehicle:
other: unchanged (no vehicle)
Details on inhalation exposure:
TEST ATMOSPHERE
- MMAD (Mass median aerodynamic diameter) / GSD (Geometric st. dev.): MMAD 3.5 μm ± GSD 1.81 μm


CLASS METHOD
- Rationale for the selection of the starting concentration: ~ 2mg/L was the highest that was obtainable under the conditions of the test.
Analytical verification of test atmosphere concentrations:
not specified
Duration of exposure:
4 h
Concentrations:
Nominal concentration: 2000 mg/m3
Analytical concentration: 2120 ± 140 mg/m3
No. of animals per sex per dose:
5/sex/dose
Control animals:
no
Details on study design:
- Duration of observation period following administration: 14 days
- Necropsy of survivors performed: Yes
- Other examinations performed: Clinical signs
Statistics:
Not applicable - limit test
Sex:
male/female
Dose descriptor:
LC50
Effect level:
> 2.12 mg/L air
Based on:
test mat.
Exp. duration:
4 h
Remarks on result:
other: This study was carried out at the request of the US EPA to confirm that the highest dose obtainable was 2 mg/L. It was deemed by the US EPA to be an acceptable study.
Mortality:
No deaths occurred
Clinical signs:
other: Animal observations were limited to the accumulation of test material on the walls of the exposure chamber. During the first 1.5 h of exposure, ocular and nasal discharge, hypoactivity and hunched posture were noted. Ocular discharge and/or nasal discha
Body weight:
No data
Gross pathology:
No specific findings observed, except red lung discolouration consistent with carbon dioxide inhalation caused by the euthanisation technique. All tissues and organs were normal.
Other findings:
No data
Interpretation of results:
other: No data
Remarks:
Criteria used for interpretation of results: not specified
Conclusions:
The test was performed according to OECD Guideline 403. No deaths occurred. Animal observations were limited due to the accumulation of test material on the walls of the exposure chamber. During the first 1.5 h of exposure, ocular and nasal discharge, hypoactivity and hunched posture were noted. Ocular discharge and/or nasal discharge persisted in most animals after removal from the chamber. All animals recovered by day two after removal from the chamber.
Endpoint conclusion
Endpoint conclusion:
no adverse effect observed
Dose descriptor:
LC50
Value:
2 mg/m³ air

Acute toxicity: via dermal route

Link to relevant study records
Reference
Endpoint:
acute toxicity: dermal
Type of information:
experimental study
Adequacy of study:
key study
Study period:
No data
Reliability:
1 (reliable without restriction)
Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
other: Guideline study.
Qualifier:
according to guideline
Guideline:
other: FIFRA (40 CFR 163)
Deviations:
no
GLP compliance:
no
Remarks:
Study pre-dates GLP
Test type:
fixed dose procedure
Limit test:
yes
Species:
rabbit
Strain:
New Zealand White
Sex:
male/female
Details on test animals or test system and environmental conditions:
TEST ANIMALS
- Source: Harlan F. Plummer
- Weight at study initiation: 1623 - 2922 g
Type of coverage:
semiocclusive
Vehicle:
physiological saline
Details on dermal exposure:
TEST SITE
- Area of exposure: The skin of all animals was abraded longitudinally every 2 - 3 cm, deep enough to penetrate the stratum corneum, but not cause bleeding.
- % coverage: > 10 % of body surface implied
- Type of wrap if used: Semi occlusive


REMOVAL OF TEST SUBSTANCE
- Washing (if done): Moist towel
- Time after start of exposure: 24 h


TEST MATERIAL
- For solids, paste formed: Yes


VEHICLE
- Amount applied: Substance moistened with 1.5 mL saline
Duration of exposure:
24 h
Doses:
Dosage to 2 g/kg
No. of animals per sex per dose:
5/sex/group
Control animals:
no
Details on study design:
- Duration of observation period following administration: 14 days
- Necropsy of survivors performed: Yes
- Other examinations performed: Clinical signs, histopathology
Statistics:
Not applicable - limit test.
Sex:
male/female
Dose descriptor:
LD50
Effect level:
> 2 000 mg/kg bw
Based on:
test mat.
Mortality:
No deaths occurred
Clinical signs:
other: Clinical changes were limited to transient diarrhoea in 2 rabbits and some incidences of erythema (9), and oedema (30), atonia (2), desquamation (4), necrosis, and other evidence of irritation at 23 and ~70.5 h after treatment.
Gross pathology:
No gross necrospy findings were observed. Observations included one animal with gas filled intestine, one animal with pale yellow-coloured kidneys and 5 animals with enlarged or swollen fallopian tubes.
Other findings:
No data

Gross necropsy findings in male and female rabbits at the end of the observation period:

Gross Necropsy Findings

Dosage at 2 g/kg

Number of animals necropsied

10

No gross necropsy findings

5

Intestine

Gas-filled

1

Kidneys

Pale yellow coloured

1

Fallopian tubes

Enlarged or swollen

4

Pale

1

External

Diarrhoea stains

1

Interpretation of results:
not classified
Remarks:
Migrated information Criteria used for interpretation of results: EU
Conclusions:
The study was performed according to FIFRA (40 CFR 163). The LD50 > 2000 mg/kg bw indicating no acute dermal toxicity. No deaths occurred. Clinical changes were limited to erythema, oedema, atonia, desquamation, necrosis and some incidences of skin irritation at more than 24 h of treatment.
Endpoint conclusion
Endpoint conclusion:
no adverse effect observed
Dose descriptor:
LD50
Value:
2 000 mg/kg bw

Additional information

LD50 values of >2000 mg/kg were recorded for both oral and dermal routes and > 2 mg/L for the acute inhalation study. The highest attainable inhalation concentration was 2.12 mg/L.

Boric acid is of low acute toxicity. Although some of the acute oral studies were not of modern standards and were performed prior to the introduction of GLP, they are reproducible across a number of studies and species and of acceptable quality. For acute dermal and acute inhalation some studies do meet the modern GLP standard.


Justification for selection of acute toxicity – oral endpoint
Acute toxicity studies are not available for orthoboric acid, potassium salt. Boric acid is used for read-across.

Justification for selection of acute toxicity – inhalation endpoint
Acute toxicity studies are not available for orthoboric acid, potassium salt. Boric acid is used for read-across.

Justification for selection of acute toxicity – dermal endpoint
Acute toxicity studies are not available for orthoboric acid, potassium salt. Boric acid is used for read-across.

Justification for classification or non-classification

Orthoboric acid, potassium salt is not classified for the oral, dermal or inhalation routes, as the LD50 values from read across studies with boric acid exceed the limit for classification.