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Long-term Behavioral and Reproductive Consequences of Embryonic Exposure to Low-dose Toxicants
Published on: March 6, 2018
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What can we learn from epidemiological studies on chronic boron exposure?
Yalçın Duydu1, Nurşen Başaran2, Hermann M Bolt3
1Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ankara University, Ankara, Türkiye.
Critical Reviews in Toxicology
|June 23, 2023
Summary
High occupational boron exposure in China and Türkiye did not lead to reproductive or developmental effects. Current blood boron levels in humans are unlikely to reach critical thresholds for adverse effects, even in daily life.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Toxicology
- Reproductive Toxicology
- Occupational Health
Background:
- Boric acid and sodium borates are classified as toxic to reproduction and development (EU-CLP Category 1B, H360FD).
- This classification prompted epidemiological studies on boron exposure in China, Türkiye, and Argentina.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate reproductive and developmental effects of boron exposure in occupational settings.
- To compare human exposure levels with established reference doses (RfDs) and no observed adverse effect levels (NOAELs).
Main Methods:
- Epidemiological studies in China and Türkiye assessing total daily boron exposure (DBE) and blood boron concentrations.
- Comparison of observed human exposure and blood levels with animal study NOAELs and proposed human RfDs.
Main Results:
- Highest mean DBE levels in occupational settings exceeded proposed RfDs for developmental and reproductive effects.
- Despite high exposure, no boron-mediated reproductive or developmental effects were reported in human studies.
- Observed blood boron concentrations were significantly lower than those associated with adverse effects in animal models.
Conclusions:
- Current occupational and likely daily-life boron exposure levels in humans do not appear to cause reproductive or developmental harm.
- The risk assessment for boron's reproductive and developmental toxicity may need re-evaluation based on human epidemiological data.
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