Boric acid (H2B4O7), dipotassium salt, reaction products with boron and potassium fluoride (K(HF2))

Genetic toxicity: in vitro

Administrative data

Endpoint:

in vitro gene mutation study in mammalian cells

Remarks:

Type of genotoxicity: gene mutation

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

No data

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: see 'Remark'

Remarks:

GLP guideline study. This study is conducted on an analogue substance. Read-across is justified on the following basis: In aqueous solutions at physiological and acidic pH, low concentrations of simple inorganic borates such as boric acid, disodium tetraborate decahydrate, disodium tetraborate pentahydrate, boric oxide and disodium octaborate tetrahydrate will predominantly exist as undissociated boric acid. At about pH 10 the metaborate anion (B(OH)4-) becomes the main species in solution (WHO, 1998). This leads to the conclusion that the main species in the plasma of mammals and in the environment is un-dissociated boric acid. Since other borates dissociate to form boric acid in aqueous solutions, they too can be considered to exist as un-dissociated boric acid under the same conditions. For comparative purposes, exposures to borates are often expressed in terms of boron (B) equivalents based on the fraction of boron in the source substance on a molecular weight basis. Some studies express dose in terms of B, whereas other studies express the dose in units of boric acid. Since the systemic effects and some of the local effects can be traced back to boric acid, results from one substance can be transferred to also evaluate the another substance on the basis of boron equivalents. Therefore data obtained from studies with these borates can be read across in the human health assessment for each individual substance. Conversion factors are given in the table below. Conversion factor for equivalent dose of B Boric acid H3BO3 0.175 Boric Oxide B2O3 0.311 Disodium tetraborate anhydrous Na2B4O7 0.215 Disodium tetraborate pentahydrate Na2B4O7•5H2O 0.148 Disodium tetraborate decahydrate Na2B4O7•10H2O 0.113 Disodium octaborate tetrahydrate Na2B8O13•4H2O 0.210 Sodium metaborate (anhydrous) NaBO2 0.1643 Sodium metaborate (dihydrate) NaBO2•2H2O 0.1062 Sodium metaborate (tetrahydrate) NaBO2•4H2O 0.0784 Sodium pentaborate (anhydrous) NaB5O8 0.2636 Sodium pentaborate (pentahydrate) NaB5O8∙5H2O 0.1832 References: WHO. Guidelines for drinking-water quality, Addendum to Volume 1, 1998.

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

study report

Title:

Unnamed

Year:

1991

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Test guideline 1

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

other: 40 CFR Part 158 US-EPA-FIFRA, Section 156.340

Deviations:

no

Test guideline 2

Qualifier:

equivalent or similar to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 476 (In Vitro Mammalian Cell Gene Mutation Test)

Deviations:

not specified

GLP compliance:

yes

Type of assay:

mammalian cell gene mutation assay

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Boric acid

EC Number:

233-139-2

EC Name:

Boric acid

Cas Number:

10043-35-3

Molecular formula:

H3BO3

IUPAC Name:

Boric acid

Details on test material:

- Name of test material: Boric acid, Granular Technical Grade; Granular Technical Grade Supplied by US Borax Inc.
- Analytical purity: > 99 %
- Stability: Stable

Method

Target gene:

Thymidine kinase, TK locus of the L5178Y mouse lymphoma cell line

Species / strain

Species / strain / cell type:

mouse lymphoma L5178Y cells

Details on mammalian cell type (if applicable):

No data

Additional strain / cell type characteristics:

not specified

Metabolic activation:

with and without

Metabolic activation system:

S9 mix or other (Aroclor 1254 induced rat (Fischer 344) liver S9 fraction used at 1 %).

Test concentrations with justification for top dose:

0, 1.2, 1.7, 2.45, 3.5 and 5.0 mg/mL boric acid.

Vehicle / solvent:

No data

Controls

Controls 1

Positive controls:

yes

Positive control substance:

3-methylcholanthrene

Controls 2

Positive controls:

yes

Positive control substance:

other: Hycanthone methylsulphonate

Details on test system and experimental conditions:

METHOD OF APPLICATION: ROP plus 5 % heat treated horse serum

NUMBER OF CELLS EVALUATED: Approximately 600/dose

Evaluation criteria:

Mutations at the TK locus

Statistics:

No data

Results and discussion

Test results

Species / strain:

mouse lymphoma L5178Y cells

Metabolic activation:

with and without

Genotoxicity:

negative

Cytotoxicity / choice of top concentrations:

cytotoxicity

Remarks:

Concentration related cytoxicity (60 % reduction over controls at 5 mg/mL)

Additional information on results:

Concentration related cytotoxicity (60 % reduction over controls at 5 mg/mL).
Increase in ouabain resistance seen (not significant).

Remarks on result:

other: all strains/cell types tested

Remarks:

Migrated from field 'Test system'.

Any other information on results incl. tables

Gene mutation assay results:

Concentration mg/mL	Number of mutant cells per 10^6cells ± SD				Comments give information on cytotoxicity or other
	Exp 1	Exp 2	Exp 1	Exp 2
	-S9	-S9	+S9	+S9
0	54 ± 10	42 ± 1	29 ± 10	36 ± 7
1.2	46 ± 28	38 ± 15	34 ± 0	36 ± 7
1.7	39 ± 17	31 ± 9	41 ± 7	49 ± 4
2.45	27 ± 3	32 ± 9	40 ± 16	36 ± 6	Minor cytotoxicity seen
3.5	31 ± 18	46 ± 1	41 ± 13	41 ± 6	Cytotoxicity seen
5	50 ± 22	41 ± 5	53 ± 2	47 ± 3	Cytotoxicity seen. Increase in + S9 in first study not reproduced.

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:

Interpretation of results (migrated information):
negative

The test substance was not mutagenic but cytotoxicity observed at 5 mg/mL (maximum dose level).
Read-across is justified on the basis detailed in the rationale for reliability above. This study is therefore considered to be of sufficient adequacy and reliability to be used as a supporting study and no further testing is justified.