The Beast Of Borax Can Kill You

So what’s the problem with Borax? Follow this link to see The Beauty of Borax.

Peruse any DIY web site or forum where people are trading recipes for a myriad of pest control issues and it won’t be long before you see someone telling the world to use Borax to get rid of ‘said’ problem. These concoctions range from mixing Borax and sugar for killing roaches to sprinkling an entire box all over your flooring for fleas. You can even get rid of mice with this miracle product by simply lining the floors along the walls with a “thick coating’ of the stuff. Mice don’t like walking in it and will soon run away” or so touts the anonymous poster. How nice and how kind to the mouse not to kill it, finally a humane way to get rid of mice and still be safe for the kids- I say keep some in the box so when they find your dead body they’ll have something to make a chalk line around you as you lay on the floor – dead!

Facts;

Borax is NOT labeled as an insecticide and the MSDS sheet specifically tells you how they intend for you to use their product. “This product is a laundry care product. The use of this product by consumers is safe under normal and reasonable foreseen use.”

We’ve known since 1904 that Boric Acid and Borax is dangerous if ingested yet we still spread this poison all across our floors and counters where we come in contact with, breathe in and let our little ones crawl and play all over our treated areas. (and this testing was ON HUMANS)

Borax is a chemical and 3 to 6 grams is all that’s needed to kill a child and 15 to 20 for an adult. To put this in perspective, a nickel weighs 4.5 grams, do you want to risk a persons life for a measly five to fifteen cents?

If you read my companion article Borax-Beauty and The Beast you would quickly see I am in no way indicting this fine product, I am however warning unsuspecting homeowners who think they are simply applying a harmless powder that will in no wise pose a threat. I am also calling out the purveyors of websites and so called experts who are contributing to this hazard. Interesting to note that it’s not Picture 10 194x300 The Beast Of Borax Can Kill You pest control professionals telling you to use this product but our so called Green friends. This is so irresponsible and cuts any credibility this movement has if those in the forefront of Green Pest Control stand idly by and do not speak up. Labels and safety don’t stop at the environmentally friendly door. I wouldn’t even recommend a person to use Boric Acid in these ways even though it is essentially the same thing and it IS labeled for pest control. It too is relied on as a natural alternative but this inorganic substance is also very dangerous in the hands of the ill informed.

Is Borax a safe product and beneficial? Yes, when used for intended purposes and in the way in which it is recommended you should have no problems. No, when it is ignorantly and carelessly strewn about in the name of saving the planet or just saving a few bucks. It is at that time when the Beauty of Borax becomes the Beast that Can Kill You.

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Tagged as: borax for fleas, borax uses, boric acid, is borax dangerous, is borax safe, safety data, sodium borate, what is borax

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_XL374DFQBZU5ZXUEADTAEQ7KGM Thomas

You are a corporate shill. Borax is no more toxic than table salt.
http://pestcemetery.com The Bug Doctor

And table salt is more toxic than 3/4 of the products I keep on my truck.

Thank you for your comment
http://profile.yahoo.com/PUDC6ONZNR722PUZRV4B2E6EIQ bubbleVicious

Borax, also known as sodium borate, sodium tetraborate, or disodium tetraborate, is an important boron compound, a mineral, and a salt of boric acid. Borax was first discovered in dry lake beds in Tibet and has a wide variety of uses. It is a component of many detergents, cosmetics, and enamel glazes. It is also used to make buffer solutions in biochemistry, as a fire retardant, as an anti-fungal compound for fiberglass, as a flux in metallurgy, a texturing agent in cooking.
http://profile.yahoo.com/PUDC6ONZNR722PUZRV4B2E6EIQ bubbleVicious

You failed grade school chemistry huh? Boric Acid is absolutely organic, found in the ocean, plants and food. Boron occurs naturally in food as borate (B4O72-) or boric acid. The richest sources of boron include fruits, leafy vegetables, legumes, and nuts.
http://pestcemetery.com The Bug Doctor

Thank you for your comment(s) Bubble,
In your own words-”BORAX is NON-TOXIC to most pets and humans”…????? Hmmm? Which ones are safe from it then? What makes it toxic to the few? You seem to have an apparent knowledge, can you clue us in on what you mean?
http://pestcemetery.com The Bug Doctor

I was wondering which website you got your information from. My guess was way wrong. I thought wikipedia or some such site but a Hong Kong Government page? PLEASE. You obviously didn’t extend me the courtesy of reading or at least looking at any of the links I supplied like I did yours.
Well how about the Boric acid MSDS (material safety data sheet) You don’t need to even scroll down the page http://www.incidetech.net/msdsboricacid09.pdf

and it says – Chemical Family: Inorganic Borates

Oh but Borax HAS to be organic right? Again- THEIR OWN MSDS and you still don’t even have to scroll down one inch; http://www.soapsgonebuy.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=D1002&Show=TechSpecs

And it states — CHEMICAL FAMILY: Inorganic salt

I’m sorry but it’s obvious you didn’t read my article(s) (there’s two of em;) nor does it seem you read your own link from the great organic authority – The Hong Kong Gov. Their own words state;

In humans, it is believed that adverse reactions associated with low doses of boric acid per day are unlikely to occur. However, exposure to large amounts of boric acid over a short period of time can affect the stomach, bowels, liver, kidney, and brain, and may even lead to death. Hmmmmmm- sounds much like what I said – or;

In Hong Kong, under the Preservatives in Food Regulation, boric acid and borax are not permitted preservatives in food.

Do not use boric acid or borax in food.

These are their words- not mine but somehow I don’t think you’ll be fighting with them over a product you thought you understood.

Oh and you’re wrong about me failing grade school chemistry- my little po-dunk school didn’t even teach it. Wow, uneducated and I still out smarted you-

Thanks for your comment
steve

i brush my teeth with borax, dude. youre way out there on the excite-o-meter. i knoew people who actually take borax(cosmetic grade) as supplement. are they eating it by the gram? no. it produces quite a gag reflex. but having it spread around in the environment is a health benefit, not a detriment. pick another windmill to joust at, don.
http://pestcemetery.com The Bug Doctor

It’s hard to joust with wooden shoes my friend. The next time you use a whole box of this stuff to brush your teeth or one of your anecdotal friends woof’s down a few ounces of it, let me know how that turns out for you. Half reading this article did you no service. (there is a part one too) By your e-mail address -I’m assuming perhaps you’re a trapper? I apologize for assuming- sorta hypocritical I know. But–I find it hard to believe if that’s true, you haven’t seen the common overkill that homeowners are capable of– This is what this article is all about and whether I am right about your vocation or not— You missed it.
April

The problem with your article is that it makes those that are main stream media informed even more skeptical of using natural products and so will continue to use whatever is advertised/known/familiar, which is often toxic chemicals to get rid of pests and this is not what we want. I think you could have chosen something else to spend your time on, like truly toxic environmentally damaging products like Roundup instead of scarring people out of using something much more environmentally friendly like Borax. We have many evils to fight in this money hungry world, I just don’t think Borax is one of them. Telling people about the possible dangers of ingesting large quantities is different then writing the article in the way you did. I hope you will take the comments made by readers to heart, as none of this feedback agrees with your information. Peace, April

The Beast Of Borax Can Kill You

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