Toxicology and health impact of environmental exposure to boron. A review.

The presence of high concentrations of boron in community water supplies has been reported as a localized problem in certain areas of United States, USSR and Italy. In this paper, current information on sources, occurrence, pollution potential and toxicity of environmental boron is reviewed. In animals, chronic low-level boron exposure has been shown to cause reduced growth, cutaneous disorders and suppression of male reproductive system function. The mechanisms underlying these effects and available data on dose-response relationships are discussed in connection with human health hazards possibly associated with continuous low-level absorption of boron compounds.