Roach killer powder works on humans, too

  • Thread starter Thread starter EnumaElish
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Powder Works
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

Boric acid is primarily recognized as a roach killer but has various applications, including controlling fungi and potentially serving as a fire repellent. While it is generally considered less toxic than table salt, doses of 5 to 20 g/kg can be lethal to adult humans, raising concerns about its safety. The discussion highlights the ambiguity in toxicity data, suggesting that lethal dose estimates may derive from animal studies or extreme human cases. Users are encouraged to approach boric acid with caution due to its potential health risks.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of boric acid properties and applications
  • Knowledge of toxicity levels and safety guidelines
  • Familiarity with basic chemical safety practices
  • Awareness of alternative pest control methods
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the safety guidelines for handling boric acid
  • Investigate the use of boric acid in pest control and its effectiveness
  • Learn about the toxicological studies related to boric acid
  • Explore alternative fire retardants and their applications
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for pest control professionals, chemical safety experts, and individuals interested in the applications and risks associated with boric acid.

EnumaElish
Science Advisor
Messages
2,346
Reaction score
124
AFAIK, boric acid is most commonly sold as a roach killer, although apparently it has many other more benign uses. I happen to know that it works pretty well on common fungi that appear around sweaty human joints.

Wikipedia says it's used to control uranium fission in nuclear plants.

Has anyone used it as a fire repellent?

wikipedia writes: "boric acid is poisonous if taken internally or inhaled in large quantities. However, it is generally considered to be not much more toxic than table salt."

So far so good...

But then, in the same paragraph, wikipedia says: "5 to 20 g/kg has produced death in adult humans."

How exactly do they know that, any guesses?

[X-files theme playing in the background...]
 
Biology news on Phys.org
"But then, in the same paragraph, wikipedia says: "5 to 20 g/kg has produced death in adult humans."

well, it quite a bit of boric acid, figuring 50 to 100 kg for the weight of a person
 
Either the wiki article is mistaken and is reporting the predicted lethal dose for humans (perhaps an extrapolation from other toxicity data from lower dose poisonings, and/or from animal toxicology studies), or someone decided to commit suicide by eating a whole box of the stuff.
 
yeah---or, some one thinking in an altered state of mind---'I'll try any white powder'
 

Similar threads

Can You Stomach These Extreme Global Delicacies?
  • · Replies 78 ·
3
Replies
78
Views
13K