Results of the federal government of Canada’s draft screening assessment indicate that boric acid, its salts and its precursors have raised concerns on its toxicity and it potential to have adverse effects on the environment.
A proposed risk management scope document for boric acid was published on July 23. This will be followed by a 60-day public comment period ending on September 21. If the proposed conclusion is confirmed in the final screening assessment, the government will consider options to manage releases of these substances to water to address ecological concerns, as appropriate, and address the exposure to boric acid from certain products available to consumers.
Health Canada will review the current listing for boric acid and its salts on the cosmetic ingredient hotlist which indicates concentration limits for use in cosmetic products. For commercially available children’s toys, compliance and enforcement of the existing prohibition on boron will continue as part of the regular enforcement of the toys regulations under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act.
The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) of Health Canada published a re-evaluation decision on the uses of pesticides containing boron on July 22. Certain commercial and domestic pesticide uses of boron are being cancelled due to potential health risks. More information can be found in the re-evaluation decision document.
In Canada, boric acid, its salts and its precursors are used in a wide variety of products and applications. These include fibreglass and cellulose insulation, fertilizers, metallurgical, oil and gas extraction and surface finishing. They are also found in pesticides, cleaning products, cosmetics, drugs and natural health products, swimming pool and spa chemicals, gypsum boards and engineered wood products.