The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has prepared this Health Effects Support Document for Boron to assist in determining whether to regulate boron with a National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR). The available data on occurrence, exposure, and other risk considerations suggest that boron does not occur in public water systems at a frequency and at levels of public health concern at the present time. Based on the low occurrence of boron in the potable water, and on its natural occurrence in the environment, boron does not present a meaningful opportunity for health risk reduction for persons served by public water systems. EPA presents its determination and data analysis in the Federal Register Notice covering the Contaminant Candidate List (CCL) regulatory determinations. Boron is a metalloid element from Group IIIA of the periodic table. Naturally-occurring boron usually is found in sediments and sedimentary rock formations and rarely exists in elemental form. Other forms of boron include boric acid, borax, borax pentahydrate, anhydrous borax, and boron oxide. The principal uses for boron compounds in the United States include glass and ceramics, soaps and detergents, algicides in water treatment, fertilizers, pesticides, flame retardants, and reagents for production of other boron compounds.

Title from title screen (viewed Oct 6, 2008). "January 2008." "EPA-822-R-08-002." Includes bibliographical references.

Executive summary -- Identity: chemical and physical properties -- Uses and environmental fate -- Exposure from drinking water -- Exposure from media other than water -- Toxicokinetics -- Hazard identification -- Dose-response assessment -- Regulatory determination and characterization of risk from drinking water.