Sundheds- og Ældreudvalget 2015-16 SUU Alm.del Bilag 106 Offentligt Survey of Boric acid and sodium borates (borax) Part of the LOUS review Survey of chemical substances in consumer products No. 139, 2015 Title: Editing: Survey of Boric acid and sodium borates (borax) Poul Bo Larsen Brian Svend Nielsen Frank Leck Fotel Peter Kortegaard Tina Slothuus Ole Hjelmar Published by: The Danish Environmental Protection Agency Strandgade 29 1401 Copenhagen K Denmark www.mst.dk/english Year: ISBN no. 2015 978-87-93352-23-0 Disclaimer: When the occasion arises, the Danish Environmental Protection Agency will publish reports and papers concerning research and development projects within the environmental sector, financed by study grants provided by the Danish Environmental Protection Agency. It should be noted that such publications do not necessarily reflect the position or opinion of the Danish Environmental Protection Agency. However, publication does indicate that, in the opinion of the Danish Environmental Protection Agency, the content represents an important contribution to the debate surrounding Danish environmental policy. Sources must be acknowledged. 2 Survey of Boric acid and sodium borates (borax) Contents Preface ...................................................................................................................... 6 Summary and conclusions ......................................................................................... 8 Sammenfatning og konklusion ................................................................................ 14 1. Introduction to the substance ........................................................................... 20 1.1 Identification of the substances .......................................................................................... 20 1.2 Purity and impurities ............................................................................................................ 21 1.3 Physical and chemical properties ......................................................................................... 21 1.4 Summary .............................................................................................................................. 22 2. Regulatory framework...................................................................................... 23 2.1 Existing legislation ............................................................................................................... 23 2.2 Classification and labelling .................................................................................................. 28 2.2.1 Harmonised classification in the EU .................................................................... 28 2.2.2 Notified classification in the EU ........................................................................... 32 2.3 REACH ................................................................................................................................. 34 2.4 Other initiatives ................................................................................................................... 35 2.5 International agreements .................................................................................................... 36 2.6 Eco labels .............................................................................................................................. 36 2.7 Summary and conclusions ................................................................................................... 36 3. Manufacturing ................................................................................................. 38 3.1 Manufacturing processes ..................................................................................................... 38 3.2 Use ........................................................................................................................................ 38 3.2.1 Identified uses in the EU ...................................................................................... 38 3.2.2 Glass and glass products ....................................................................................... 39 3.2.3 Insulation .............................................................................................................. 39 3.2.4 Soap and detergents .............................................................................................. 39 3.2.5 Cosmetics............................................................................................................... 40 3.2.6 Fertiliser minerals ................................................................................................. 40 3.2.7 Other food products .............................................................................................. 40 3.2.8 Use in Adhesives, paper, veneer sheets and pressed panels ............................... 40 3.2.9 Mattresses ............................................................................................................. 40 3.2.10 Paints and coatings ............................................................................................... 40 3.2.11 Pharmaceutical preparations ............................................................................... 40 3.2.12 Basic metals ............................................................................................................ 41 3.2.13 Nuclear reactors. .................................................................................................... 41 3.2.14 Electronics, optical products and lightning equipment ....................................... 41 3.2.15 Registered uses according to ECHA’s database of REACH registered substances .............................................................................................................. 41 3.2.16 Data from ECHA ................................................................................................... 42 3.2.17 The Nordic countries ............................................................................................ 43 3.3 Historical trends in use ........................................................................................................ 46 3.4 Summary and conclusions ................................................................................................... 46 4. Waste management .......................................................................................... 47 4.1 Waste from manufacture and use of borates ...................................................................... 47 Survey of Boric acid and sodium borates (borax) 3 4.2 Waste treatment ................................................................................................................... 47 4.3 Recycling .............................................................................................................................. 50 4.4 Incineration and energy production ................................................................................... 50 4.5 Summary and conclusions .................................................................................................... 51 5. Environmental effects and exposure ................................................................. 52 5.1 Environmental hazard ......................................................................................................... 52 5.1.1 Toxicity to aquatic organisms ............................................................................... 52 Toxicity to sediment living organisms ................................................................................ 53 5.1.2 Toxicity to microorganisms .................................................................................. 53 5.1.3 Toxicity to terrestrial organisms .......................................................................... 54 5.2 Environmental fate ...............................................................................................................55 5.2.1 Bioaccumulation ....................................................................................................55 5.2.2 Environmental degradation ...................................................................................55 5.2.3 PBT .........................................................................................................................55 5.3 Environmental exposure ..................................................................................................... 56 5.3.1 Sources of release .................................................................................................. 56 5.3.2 Monitoring data .................................................................................................... 56 5.3.3 Calculated Predicted Environmental Concentrations (PEC) ............................... 61 5.4 Environmental impact ......................................................................................................... 62 5.5 Summary and conclusions ................................................................................................... 63 6. Human health hazard ....................................................................................... 64 6.1 Hazards ................................................................................................................................ 64 6.1.1 Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism and Excretion ......................................... 64 6.1.2 Acute toxicity ........................................................................................................