Boron in Cleaning Products: Paul DeLeo’s Assessment Published in Critical Reviews in Toxicology

Paul DeLeo, Ph.D., Integral Principal, coauthored an article recently published in Critical Reviews in Toxicology,[1] presenting an assessment of boron exposure to Canadian consumers from cleaning product use.  The assessment demonstrates that exposure to boron from cleaning product use is very low and essentially insignificant when compared to other (e.g., dietary) sources of boron intake.

Boron is a mineral found in food and the environment, and commonly taken as a supplement.  Boron-based ingredients are used in many household cleaning products such as all-purpose cleaners, laundry detergents, and stain removers.  Use of boron-containing ingredients in consumer products has been the subject of regulatory concern because toxicity studies on boric acid and related compounds have shown reproductive and developmental effects in animals at high doses.

Integral partnered with the Canadian Consumer Specialty Products Association to utilize the most up-to-date information on the boron content of ingredients in marketed products and develop a contemporary assessment for a recent review by the Government of Canada.[2]  In this study, model simulations were used to estimate exposure, largely dermal exposure, of Canadian consumers to boron in several household cleaning products, including all-purpose cleaning liquids and sprays, carpet cleaner, and dish and laundry detergents.  Dr. DeLeo and coauthors found that exposure to boron via cleaning products is generally low when compared to exposure to boron in the environment.

To learn more, contact Dr. DeLeo at pdeleo@integral-corp.com.

[1] DeLeo, P.C., S.B. Stuard, O. Kinsky, C. Thiffault, and B. Baisch.  2021.  Assessment of consumer exposure to boron in cleaning products: A case study of Canada.  Critical Reviews in Toxicology.  https://doi.org/10.1080/10408444.2021.1911931.

[2] ECCC and HC.  2016.  Draft screening assessment: Boric acid, its salts and its precursors.  Available at: https://www.ec.gc.ca/ese-ees/default.asp?lang=En&n=2A581398-1.  Environment and Climate Change Canada, and Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.