Re: borax safety limits raised (2004)

[Guest guest]

Thanks for that. It's funny b/c I just called 20 mule (which I think is owned by

Dial) and asked them if their's was syntentic or naturally occuring. They said

they get it from death valley, (it's probably given to them by Rio Tinto after

reading your article) then they use a machine to grind it up. She said it has .5

percent trace minerals remaining from the machine of what they grind out. That

was a little confusing to me when I thought about it after I got off the phone.

It sounds like a separation is going on but I don't know what's being separated

from what for the trace minerals to be " remaining " . Why wouldn't she just say we

ground what we get from Death Valley from a solid chunk into a powder. I am so

paranoid.

>

> While perusing the web looking for borax info I found this press

> release from the Rio Tinto Borax company, which has apparently got a

> good environmental track record for its mining operations.

> I'm not sure how this level in milligrams relates to the dosage

> someone mentioned of 1/8 teaspoon in a quart of water over the course

> of a day, but just fyi:

>

> For Immediate Release

> August 5, 2004 Keefe

> 661/287-5484

>

> ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY RAISES SAFETY LIMITS FOR BORON

> CONSUMPTION

> Review of 200 Studies Results in Increasing Levels Considered Safe for

> People

>

> VALENCIA - The National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA)

> today announced its finding that people can safely consume more than

> twice the amount of boron previously considered harmless. Boron is a

> nutritionally important element that is present in all food in trace

> amounts. NCEA is the division of the Environmental Protection Agency

> charged with assessing health risks associated with substances found

> in the environment.

>

> NCEA increased its allowable daily dose of boron from 6.3 milligrams

> to 14 milligrams per day. Boron is an essential micronutrient for

> plants and most people eat between one and three milligrams every day

> as part of a healthy diet of fruits, vegetables, grains, cereals and

> nuts. The revision was the result of a multi-year assessment of more

> than 200 studies on boron's health effects, some of which were

> completed recently by scientists at the University of California,

> Irvine, and the Research Triangle Institute.

>

> " We applaud the NCEA for advancing the world's scientific

> understanding of boron's health effects, " said Goldberg, Chief

> Executive of Rio Tinto Borax. " As world leaders in boron science and

> supply, our research points to the same conclusion: the more we know

> about boron, the more comfortable we are that boron is safe for people

> and the planet. "

>

> NCEA conducted its risk assessment on boron to update the EPA's

> Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS), a database of human health

> effects associated with exposure to more than 500 substances found in

> the environment. IRIS is widely considered one of the world's most

> robust databases in this field.

>

> NCEA also reduced its uncertainty factor for boron from the default

> level of 100 to 66 - a precedent-setting policy change. Uncertainty

> factors are mathematical formulas applied to data which are used to

> protect populations from hazards that cannot be assessed with high

> precision. NCEA's decision to assign a lower uncertainty factor to

> boron reflects the availability of new and more reliable research.

>

> " This scientific breakthrough bodes well for farmers who rely on boron

> fertilizers as essential crop nutrients, and for manufacturers who

> rely on boron-based products as essential ingredients in fiberglass,

> glass, ceramics, detergents, flame retardants and wood preservatives:

> the building blocks of an acceptable standard of living, " said Mr.

> Goldberg.

>

> " NCEA has set a new upper limit for boron consumption. This

> accomplishment brings us to the next horizon in boron science: to

> determine the lower limit, or how much boron is essential to human

> health. " said Mr. Goldberg.

>

> About Borax

> Borax supplies nearly half the global demand for borates - boron-based

> products that are essential nutrients for plants, part of a healthy

> human diet, and key ingredients in fiberglass, ceramics, detergents,

> fertilizers and wood preservatives. The company employs nearly 1,450

> people worldwide, and ships its products to customers in nearly 100

> countries. Borax is also an industry leader in measuring and improving

> how its practices and products contribute to sustainable development.

> For more, visit www.borax.com.

>

> About NCEA

> EPA's Office of Research and Development conducts research to help

> ensure that efforts to reduce environmental risks are based on the

> best available scientific information. The National Center for

> Environmental Assessment (NCEA), a major component of ORD, is EPA's

> national resource center for human health and ecological risk

> assessment. NCEA conducts risk assessments, carries out research to

> improve the state-of-the-science of risk assessment, and provides

> guidance and support to risk assessors.

>

> NCEA occupies a critical position in ORD between (1) researchers in

> other ORD components generating new findings and data and (2)

> regulators in the EPA program offices and regions who must make

> regulatory, enforcement, and remedial action decisions. As a result,

> NCEA plays an important role as a consultant to EPA programs and

> regions on the use of science in environmental decision making and

> also influences the direction of environmental research.

>

> http://www.borax.com/news38.html

>

> Rio Tinto Borax

>

> Rio Tinto Borax operates California's largest open pit mine in Boron,

> California - one of the richest borate deposits on the planet. The

> company supplies nearly half the world's demand for refined borates,

> minerals essential to life and modern living.

> Borax traces its roots to California's Death Valley, where borate

> deposits were discovered in 1872. The twenty mule teams Borax used to

> haul ore out of the remote desert live on as a symbol of the company's

> commitment to innovation.

>

> Today, Borax is acknowledged as the world leader in borate technology,

> research and development. Technical support for customers, product

> quality, and supply reliability are the pillars of our commercial

> commitment. We are also committed to ensuring that our practices and

> products are socially, environmentally and economically sustainable.

>

> Borax is a member of the Rio Tinto group.

>

>

> Boron Operations

> Chosen as one of the Nation's Safest Mines

>

>

>

> Borax is first mining company honored by Governor Schwarzenegger for

> Environmental & Economic Leadership Award

>

>

>

> EPA study shows people can safely consume more than twice the amount

> of boron previously considered harmless

> 200+ health studies assessed

>

>

>

> Safety Award from US Government

> Borax named safest mining operation

>

> http://www.borax.com/

>

>

[Guest guest]

Well, paranoia may keep us alive but then again it may kill us with

all the extra stress it causes! <g>

FYI on one site it said as little as a teaspoon would kill a child,

another place said it would take 6 ounces to kill an adult... of

course toxicity below the lethal level could still cause problems. I

only found one site that recommended ingesting it and that was that

very weird, incomplete reference from Thailand that gave no details...

fyi someone claiming to be a chemistry teacher commented on relative

toxicity of borax here:

Comment #27 (Posted by Dodie)

In the original column you wrote " Given its insecticidal properties,

that indicates that it does have some level of toxicity and should

therefore be treated with care. " I wanted to explain this to any

readers. Insects have an exoskeleton. The borax, because it absorbs

moisture, dries out the exoskeleton on insects, and they die. They are

not dying because borax is " toxic " in any way. Borax is as " dangerous "

as baking soda and should be treated in like manner. Your friendly

chemistry teacher. :^)

http://www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/115/1/Handy-borax-tips.html

On Sep 3, 2009, at 4:28 PM, crayfishfeed wrote:

> Thanks for that. It's funny b/c I just called 20 mule (which I think

> is owned by Dial) and asked them if their's was syntentic or

> naturally occuring. They said they get it from death valley, (it's

> probably given to them by Rio Tinto after reading your article) then

> they use a machine to grind it up. She said it has .5 percent trace

> minerals remaining from the machine of what they grind out. That was

> a little confusing to me when I thought about it after I got off the

> phone. It sounds like a separation is going on but I don't know

> what's being separated from what for the trace minerals to be

> " remaining " . Why wouldn't she just say we ground what we get from

> Death Valley from a solid chunk into a powder. I am so paranoid.

>

>

> >

> > While perusing the web looking for borax info I found this press

> > release from the Rio Tinto Borax company, which has apparently got a

> > good environmental track record for its mining operations.

> > I'm not sure how this level in milligrams relates to the dosage

> > someone mentioned of 1/8 teaspoon in a quart of water over the

> course

> > of a day, but just fyi:

> >

> > For Immediate Release

> > August 5, 2004 Keefe

> > 661/287-5484

> >

> > ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY RAISES SAFETY LIMITS FOR BORON

> > CONSUMPTION

> > Review of 200 Studies Results in Increasing Levels Considered Safe

> for

> > People

> >

> > VALENCIA - The National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA)

> > today announced its finding that people can safely consume more than

> > twice the amount of boron previously considered harmless. Boron is a

> > nutritionally important element that is present in all food in trace

> > amounts. NCEA is the division of the Environmental Protection Agency

> > charged with assessing health risks associated with substances found

> > in the environment.

> >

> > NCEA increased its allowable daily dose of boron from 6.3 milligrams

> > to 14 milligrams per day. Boron is an essential micronutrient for

> > plants and most people eat between one and three milligrams every

> day

> > as part of a healthy diet of fruits, vegetables, grains, cereals and

> > nuts. The revision was the result of a multi-year assessment of more

> > than 200 studies on boron's health effects, some of which were

> > completed recently by scientists at the University of California,

> > Irvine, and the Research Triangle Institute.

> >

> > " We applaud the NCEA for advancing the world's scientific

> > understanding of boron's health effects, " said Goldberg, Chief

> > Executive of Rio Tinto Borax. " As world leaders in boron science and

> > supply, our research points to the same conclusion: the more we know

> > about boron, the more comfortable we are that boron is safe for

> people

> > and the planet. "

> >

> > NCEA conducted its risk assessment on boron to update the EPA's

> > Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS), a database of human

> health

> > effects associated with exposure to more than 500 substances found

> in

> > the environment. IRIS is widely considered one of the world's most

> > robust databases in this field.

> >

> > NCEA also reduced its uncertainty factor for boron from the default

> > level of 100 to 66 - a precedent-setting policy change. Uncertainty

> > factors are mathematical formulas applied to data which are used to

> > protect populations from hazards that cannot be assessed with high

> > precision. NCEA's decision to assign a lower uncertainty factor to

> > boron reflects the availability of new and more reliable research.

> >

> > " This scientific breakthrough bodes well for farmers who rely on

> boron

> > fertilizers as essential crop nutrients, and for manufacturers who

> > rely on boron-based products as essential ingredients in fiberglass,

> > glass, ceramics, detergents, flame retardants and wood

> preservatives:

> > the building blocks of an acceptable standard of living, " said Mr.

> > Goldberg.

> >

> > " NCEA has set a new upper limit for boron consumption. This

> > accomplishment brings us to the next horizon in boron science: to

> > determine the lower limit, or how much boron is essential to human

> > health. " said Mr. Goldberg.

> >

> > About Borax

> > Borax supplies nearly half the global demand for borates - boron-

> based

> > products that are essential nutrients for plants, part of a healthy

> > human diet, and key ingredients in fiberglass, ceramics, detergents,

> > fertilizers and wood preservatives. The company employs nearly 1,450

> > people worldwide, and ships its products to customers in nearly 100

> > countries. Borax is also an industry leader in measuring and

> improving

> > how its practices and products contribute to sustainable

> development.

> > For more, visit www.borax.com.

> >

> > About NCEA

> > EPA's Office of Research and Development conducts research to help

> > ensure that efforts to reduce environmental risks are based on the

> > best available scientific information. The National Center for

> > Environmental Assessment (NCEA), a major component of ORD, is EPA's

> > national resource center for human health and ecological risk

> > assessment. NCEA conducts risk assessments, carries out research to

> > improve the state-of-the-science of risk assessment, and provides

> > guidance and support to risk assessors.

> >

> > NCEA occupies a critical position in ORD between (1) researchers in

> > other ORD components generating new findings and data and (2)

> > regulators in the EPA program offices and regions who must make

> > regulatory, enforcement, and remedial action decisions. As a result,

> > NCEA plays an important role as a consultant to EPA programs and

> > regions on the use of science in environmental decision making and

> > also influences the direction of environmental research.

> >

> > http://www.borax.com/news38.html

> >

> > Rio Tinto Borax

> >

> > Rio Tinto Borax operates California's largest open pit mine in

> Boron,

> > California - one of the richest borate deposits on the planet. The

> > company supplies nearly half the world's demand for refined borates,

> > minerals essential to life and modern living.

> > Borax traces its roots to California's Death Valley, where borate

> > deposits were discovered in 1872. The twenty mule teams Borax used

> to

> > haul ore out of the remote desert live on as a symbol of the

> company's

> > commitment to innovation.

> >

> > Today, Borax is acknowledged as the world leader in borate

> technology,

> > research and development. Technical support for customers, product

> > quality, and supply reliability are the pillars of our commercial

> > commitment. We are also committed to ensuring that our practices and

> > products are socially, environmentally and economically sustainable.

> >

> > Borax is a member of the Rio Tinto group.

> >

> >

> > Boron Operations

> > Chosen as one of the Nation's Safest Mines

> >

> >

> >

> > Borax is first mining company honored by Governor Schwarzenegger for

> > Environmental & Economic Leadership Award

> >

> >

> >

> > EPA study shows people can safely consume more than twice the amount

> > of boron previously considered harmless

> > 200+ health studies assessed

> >

> >

> >

> > Safety Award from US Government

> > Borax named safest mining operation

> >

> > http://www.borax.com/

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

I exchanged emails with someone on the iodine group who has done it. Also

there's a practitioner on the curezone who has used it with a lot success.

Baking soda can kill a small child too. Borax is boron, sodium, oxygen and water

Here's a good article on boron/borax

http://www.diagnose-me.com/treat/T109236.html

> > >

> > > While perusing the web looking for borax info I found this press

> > > release from the Rio Tinto Borax company, which has apparently got a

> > > good environmental track record for its mining operations.

> > > I'm not sure how this level in milligrams relates to the dosage

> > > someone mentioned of 1/8 teaspoon in a quart of water over the

> > course

> > > of a day, but just fyi:

> > >

> > > For Immediate Release

> > > August 5, 2004 Keefe

> > > 661/287-5484

> > >

> > > ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY RAISES SAFETY LIMITS FOR BORON

> > > CONSUMPTION

> > > Review of 200 Studies Results in Increasing Levels Considered Safe

> > for

> > > People

> > >

> > > VALENCIA - The National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA)

> > > today announced its finding that people can safely consume more than

> > > twice the amount of boron previously considered harmless. Boron is a

> > > nutritionally important element that is present in all food in trace

> > > amounts. NCEA is the division of the Environmental Protection Agency

> > > charged with assessing health risks associated with substances found

> > > in the environment.

> > >

> > > NCEA increased its allowable daily dose of boron from 6.3 milligrams

> > > to 14 milligrams per day. Boron is an essential micronutrient for

> > > plants and most people eat between one and three milligrams every

> > day

> > > as part of a healthy diet of fruits, vegetables, grains, cereals and

> > > nuts. The revision was the result of a multi-year assessment of more

> > > than 200 studies on boron's health effects, some of which were

> > > completed recently by scientists at the University of California,

> > > Irvine, and the Research Triangle Institute.

> > >

> > > " We applaud the NCEA for advancing the world's scientific

> > > understanding of boron's health effects, " said Goldberg, Chief

> > > Executive of Rio Tinto Borax. " As world leaders in boron science and

> > > supply, our research points to the same conclusion: the more we know

> > > about boron, the more comfortable we are that boron is safe for

> > people

> > > and the planet. "

> > >

> > > NCEA conducted its risk assessment on boron to update the EPA's

> > > Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS), a database of human

> > health

> > > effects associated with exposure to more than 500 substances found

> > in

> > > the environment. IRIS is widely considered one of the world's most

> > > robust databases in this field.

> > >

> > > NCEA also reduced its uncertainty factor for boron from the default

> > > level of 100 to 66 - a precedent-setting policy change. Uncertainty

> > > factors are mathematical formulas applied to data which are used to

> > > protect populations from hazards that cannot be assessed with high

> > > precision. NCEA's decision to assign a lower uncertainty factor to

> > > boron reflects the availability of new and more reliable research.

> > >

> > > " This scientific breakthrough bodes well for farmers who rely on

> > boron

> > > fertilizers as essential crop nutrients, and for manufacturers who

> > > rely on boron-based products as essential ingredients in fiberglass,

> > > glass, ceramics, detergents, flame retardants and wood

> > preservatives:

> > > the building blocks of an acceptable standard of living, " said Mr.

> > > Goldberg.

> > >

> > > " NCEA has set a new upper limit for boron consumption. This

> > > accomplishment brings us to the next horizon in boron science: to

> > > determine the lower limit, or how much boron is essential to human

> > > health. " said Mr. Goldberg.

> > >

> > > About Borax

> > > Borax supplies nearly half the global demand for borates - boron-

> > based

> > > products that are essential nutrients for plants, part of a healthy

> > > human diet, and key ingredients in fiberglass, ceramics, detergents,

> > > fertilizers and wood preservatives. The company employs nearly 1,450

> > > people worldwide, and ships its products to customers in nearly 100

> > > countries. Borax is also an industry leader in measuring and

> > improving

> > > how its practices and products contribute to sustainable

> > development.

> > > For more, visit www.borax.com.

> > >

> > > About NCEA

> > > EPA's Office of Research and Development conducts research to help

> > > ensure that efforts to reduce environmental risks are based on the

> > > best available scientific information. The National Center for

> > > Environmental Assessment (NCEA), a major component of ORD, is EPA's

> > > national resource center for human health and ecological risk

> > > assessment. NCEA conducts risk assessments, carries out research to

> > > improve the state-of-the-science of risk assessment, and provides

> > > guidance and support to risk assessors.

> > >

> > > NCEA occupies a critical position in ORD between (1) researchers in

> > > other ORD components generating new findings and data and (2)

> > > regulators in the EPA program offices and regions who must make

> > > regulatory, enforcement, and remedial action decisions. As a result,

> > > NCEA plays an important role as a consultant to EPA programs and

> > > regions on the use of science in environmental decision making and

> > > also influences the direction of environmental research.

> > >

> > > http://www.borax.com/news38.html

> > >

> > > Rio Tinto Borax

> > >

> > > Rio Tinto Borax operates California's largest open pit mine in

> > Boron,

> > > California - one of the richest borate deposits on the planet. The

> > > company supplies nearly half the world's demand for refined borates,

> > > minerals essential to life and modern living.

> > > Borax traces its roots to California's Death Valley, where borate

> > > deposits were discovered in 1872. The twenty mule teams Borax used

> > to

> > > haul ore out of the remote desert live on as a symbol of the

> > company's

> > > commitment to innovation.

> > >

> > > Today, Borax is acknowledged as the world leader in borate

> > technology,

> > > research and development. Technical support for customers, product

> > > quality, and supply reliability are the pillars of our commercial

> > > commitment. We are also committed to ensuring that our practices and

> > > products are socially, environmentally and economically sustainable.

> > >

> > > Borax is a member of the Rio Tinto group.

> > >

> > >

> > > Boron Operations

> > > Chosen as one of the Nation's Safest Mines

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > Borax is first mining company honored by Governor Schwarzenegger for

> > > Environmental & Economic Leadership Award

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > EPA study shows people can safely consume more than twice the amount

> > > of boron previously considered harmless

> > > 200+ health studies assessed

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > Safety Award from US Government

> > > Borax named safest mining operation

> > >

> > > http://www.borax.com/

> > >

> > >