title: Respiratory and eye irritation from boron oxide and boric acid dusts.
abstract: Boron oxide has been shown in animals to irritate the respiratory mucosa and conjunctiva. The present study was undertaken to determine whether exposures to boron oxide and its hydration product, boric acid, cause respiratory and eye irritation in humans. One hundred thirteen workers exposed to these materials and 214 unexposed workers were interviewed regarding symptoms. Statistically significant associations were found between eye irritation, dryness of the mouth, nose, or throat, sore throat, and productive cough and mean exposures of 4.1 mg/m3 (which probably did not exceed 8.5 mg/m3).
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001888:Boric Acids / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001895:Boron / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001896:Boron Compounds; D004391:Dust / Q000009:adverse effects; D009877:Endophthalmitis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D007509:Irritants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D012907:Smoking
chemical_list: D001888:Boric Acids; D001896:Boron Compounds; D004391:Dust; D007509:Irritants; C042168:boron oxide; D001895:Boron; C032688:boric acid