The following article is used with the written permission of the author, Gillian Willis, pharmacist and toxicologist.

Boric acid and borax are commonly used in ant traps and for cockroach control.

Boric acid and sodium borate (borax) is potentially toxic to people and pets. However serious poisonings in humans have been reported very rarely from a single acute ingestion. Serious toxicity is more likely with repeated exposure to raw or abraded skin or from repeated ingestions. I am not aware of any reports of toxicity in the avian species from exposure to boric acid or borax.

Boric acid/borax used to be widely used in dusting powders and in a borax and honey preparation that was given to teething infants on their soothers. These preparations are no longer recommended for use in children.

A single large ingestion of boric acid/borax can cause gastrointestinal tract irritation. Clinical manifestations of chronic toxicity in humans include red and peeling skin, seizures and kidney failure.

In rats, the oral LD 50 of boric acid is 2.68 - 4.08 g/kg and for borax it is 4.5 - 4.98 g/kg which indicates a relatively low order of acute toxicity.

Boric acid or borax can be mixed with sugar as an ant trap. To minimize the risk of toxicity from repeated small ingestions by pets, the containers should be placed in an inaccessible place.

Boric acid/borax is not volatile and will not cause toxicity from being in the same room as birds, other pets or children. It is considered one of the safer insecticides.

 

Gillian Willis
Vancouver, BC