United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Prevention, Pesticides
And Toxic Substances
(7508W)
EPA-738-F-93-019
December 1993
R.E.D. FACTS
Barium Metaborate
Pesticide
Reregistration
Use Profile
All pesticides sold or used in the United States must be registered by
EPA, based on scientific studies showing that they can be used without posing
unreasonable risks to people or the environment. Because of advances in
scientific knowledge, the law requires that pesticides which were first
registered years ago be reregistered to ensure that they meet today's more
stringent standards.
In evaluating pesticides for reregistration, EPA obtains and reviews a
complete set of studies from pesticide producers, describing the human health
and environmental effects of each pesticide. The Agency imposes any regulat-
ory controls that are needed to effectively manage each pesticide's risks. EPA
then reregisters pesticides that can be used without posing undue hazards to
human health or the environment.
When a pesticide is eligible for reregistration, EPA announces this and
explains why in a Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) document. This
fact sheet summarizes the information in the RED document for barium
metaborate monohydrate, referred to as barium metaborate.
Barium metaborate is a microbiocide/microbiostat used as an industrial
preservative in the manufacturing process of paints, paper/paper products,
industrial adhesives and coatings. Barium metaborate products are formulated
as soluble concentrates and ready-to-use solutions. They are added to paints,
paper/paper products, adhesives and coatings during the manufacturing process
using a method that involves open pouring into a metering pump.
A newly registered product which contains a mixture of barium
metaborate and another pesticide active ingredient, and is used as a fungicide
to protect walls, ceilings and pipes from mold and bacteria using a brush or
airless spray, is not subject to this RED.
Barium metaborate is a compound of boron, which is ubiquitous in the
environment and occurs naturally in soils, water, food and forage crops.
Boron is an essential nutrient for plants as well as an essential element for
many organisms.
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Regulatory
History
Human Health
Assessment
Barium metaborate was first registered in the United States in 1960 as
broad spectrum bactericide and fungicide. Currently, four end use products
(three of which are covered by this RED) and no technical or manufacturing
use pesticide products are registered which contain barium metaborate as an
active ingredient.
In April 1983, EPA issued a Registration Standard for barium metaborate
(NTIS #PB84-168376). In February 1991, EPA issued a Data Call-in (DCI)
for this chemical, requiring product chemistry, ecological effects and toxicity
data.
Initially, the barium metaborate reregistration case also contained the
active ingredient sodium metaborate. Since sodium metaborate is more similar
to boric acid, however, it was included in the Boric Acid RED, completed in
September 1993.
Human Toxicity
Since only indoor, non-food uses are covered by this RED, EPA did not
require the submission of chronic toxicity, carcinogenicity or reproductive
toxicity studies.
Barium metaborate generally is of moderate to low acute toxicity, and
has been placed in Toxicity Category III for most acute effects including oral
and dermal toxicity, acute inhalation, and eye irritation. It has been placed in
Toxicity Category IV (indicating the lowest degree of acute toxicity) for
dermal irritation.
An acute neurotoxicity study using rats showed no treatment-related
effects. A combined subchronic toxicity and neurotoxicity study using rats
showed a treatment-related decrease in forelimb grip strength in high dose
males, and increased ambulatory activity in high dose males and mid- and high
dose females.
A developmental toxicity study using rabbits showed a maternal toxicity
no observed effect level (NOEL) of 10 mg/kg/day, and a lowest observed
effect level (LOEL) of 20 mg/kg/day. The NOEL for developmental toxicity
was 20 mg/kg/day, the highest dose tested. Barium metaborate shows no
evidence of mutagenicity.
Dietary Exposure
Barium metaborate has no registered food or feed uses. Therefore, no
dietary exposure is expected to occur as a result of its pesticide uses.
Occupational and Residential Exposure
The barium metaborate products subject to this RED are added to paints,
paper/paper products, adhesives and coatings during the manufacturing
process, using a method that involves open pouring into a metering pump.
During this process, dermal exposure to mixers, loaders and applicators could
be significant. However, EPA's assessment indicates that the margin of
exposure (MOE) for factory workers involved in these activities is 190, which
is well over the 100-fold acceptable margin. The risk to mixers/loaders/
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Environmental
Assessment
applicators is considered minimal. Post-application exposure also is expected
to pose minimal risks.
Human Risk Assessment
No food uses of barium metaborate are registered; therefore no dietary
risks are posed. The industrial preservative uses, which involve open pouring
application methods, could involve significant worker exposure. However, the
risks posed are minimal.
Environmental Fate
Barium metaborate is one of the boron-containing salts (borates), which
are ubiquitous in the environment. Surface soil, unpolluted waterways and
seawater all typically contain significant amounts of boron as borate. In some
areas such as the American Southwest, boron occurs naturally in surface waters
in concentrations that have been shown to be toxic to commercially important
plants.
EPA is not requiring any environmental fate data for barium metaborate.
The Agency does not believe that the pesticide uses covered by this RED add
significantly to the amount of boron already present in, or pose any
unreasonable risk to, the environment.
Ecological Effects
Barium metaborate is slightly toxic to bobwhite quail on an acute oral
toxicity basis, but is practically non-toxic to birds on a subacute basis. It is
practically non-toxic to bluegill sunfish but slightly toxic to rainbow trout and
aquatic invertebrates.
Ecological Effects Risk Assessment
Barium metaborate applied indoors is not likely to be released to the
environment in significant amounts in effluent. Any minor amounts that are
released would dissociate rapidly to naturally-occurring ionic components.
Any exposure to fish, wildlife or endangered species would be regulated under
the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit
program. Therefore, risk to fish, wildlife and endangered species is minimal.
Additional Data EPA is requiring product-specific data including product chemistry and
Required acute toxicity studies, revised Confidential Statements of Formula (CSF), and
revised product labeling for reregistration of barium metaborate industrial
preservative products.
Product Labeling The labeling of all end-use products containing barium metaborate must
Changes Required comply with EPA's current pesticide labeling requirements. In addition:
p Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements
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Regulatory
Conclusion
For More
Information
Since exposure to mixers/loaders/applicators during open pouring
methods could be significant, the following PPE is required for all
industrial preservative end-use products:
• Long-sleeved shirt and long pants;
• Socks and shoes;
• Chemical-resistant gloves.
J) Environmental Hazard Statement
The following effluent discharge statement must appear on the labels of
all end-use products:
"Do not discharge effluent containing this product into lakes, streams,
ponds, estuaries, oceans or other waters unless in accordance with the
requirements of a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
(NPDES) permit and the permitting authority has been notified in writing
prior to discharge. Do not discharge effluent containing this product to
sewer systems without previously notifying the local sewage treatment
plant authority. For guidance contact your State Water Board or
Regional Office of the EPA."
The use of microbiocide industrial preservative products containing
barium metaborate, registered prior to July 1, 1993, will not pose unreasonable
risks or adverse effects to humans or the environment. Therefore, all uses of
these products are eligible for reregistration. These products will be
reregistered once the required product-specific data, Confidential Statements
of Formula and revised labeling are received and accepted by EPA.
The newly registered barium metaborate product, which also contains
another active ingredient, will be reregistered after the other active ingredient
is determined to be eligible for reregistration.
EPA is requesting public comments on the Reregistration Eligibility
Decision (RED) document for barium metaborate during a 60-day time period,
as announced in a Notice of Availability published in the Federal Register. To
obtain a copy of the RED document or to submit written comments, please
contact the Pesticide Docket, Public Response and Program Resources Branch,
Field Operations Division (7506C), Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), US
EPA, Washington, DC 20460, telephone 703-305-5805.
Following the comment period, the barium metaborate RED document
will be available from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS),
5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161, telephone 703-487-4650.
For more information about EPA's pesticide reregistration program, the
barium metaborate RED, or reregistration of individual products subject to this
RED, please contact the Special Review and Reregistration Division (7508W),
OPP, US EPA, Washington, DC 20460, telephone 703-308-8000.
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For information about the health effects of pesticides, or for assistance
in recognizing and managing pesticide poisoning symptoms, please contact the
National Pesticides Telecommunications Network (NPTN). Call toll-free 1-
800-858-7378, 8:00 am to 6:00 pm Central Time, Monday through Friday.
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