Boron exposure from consumer products

For a natural substance that is mined and for which the world total product ion is in excess of 3 million tons, it would not be surprising to discover there is considerable exposure to boron (B) and its salts. Human exposure c an arise from a variety of natural sources, such as soil and water, and art ificially in soils via fertilizer and in waters via discharges through its use in household products and cosmetics, or via its use in pesticides, pres ervatives, and pharmaceuticals. Receiving waters can also obtain B through industrial usage. Indirect and probably insignificant consumer exposure can arise via the use of berates in glass products, flame retardants, and enamels, these applica tions comprising the major proportion of berate usage. The general intake o f B via its presence in food and water is around 1-7 mg/d, but the range of intake values is large and depends on geographical region, dietary habits (with nuts, fresh and dried fruits, and wine providing particularly rich so urces), as well as the method of analysis employed. Drinking waters typical ly contain <1 mg B/L, but the range is large, and some populations will be exposed to considerably more than 1 mg B/L. B via food and water represents the greatest source of exposure for the general consumer. Sodium berate and boric acid are widely used in consumer products, and perb orate is used in detergents, but even though there is a high potential for exposure, the internal dose of B to consumers via its use in household and personal products is very low partly owing to insignificant amounts of derm al absorption across normal skin.