Boron (CED0000937)

Boron belongs to the miscellaneous mixed metal/non-metals, a class of mixed metal/non-metal compounds within the inorganic compounds. It has the formula BH3 and an average molecular weight of 13.84 g/mol. In industrial contexts, boron is used as a flame retardant (PMC10259682) and can occur as a degradant or impurity (PMC10874124). Biologically and environmentally, it serves as a nutrient (PMC10874124) and micronutrient (PMC12735847), though it is also classified as a biological toxin (PMC11678992). Boron is found in or released from 44 recorded sources. These include household items such as key rings, badges, and credit card holders; household cleaning and consumer products including tobacco pipes, pipe accessories, other smoking requisites, non electric simulated smoking devices, and ash trays; food, food processing and cookware such as the treatment of hops, processing fish, and food contact materials; building and construction materials including roofs, ladders, floors, fencing, and ceilings; and electrical and electronic equipment such as coils, auxiliary devices, antennas, amplifiers, adjustable resistors, and 21 others. Regarding plastics, boron is released in polyethylene terephthalate but is not detected in polystyrene. Recorded exposure routes include oral, touch, and inhalation. The compound is associated with several health effects, including anorexia (PMC10874124), dermatitis (PMC10874124), diarrhea (PMC10874124), botulism (PMC10802438), and breast cancer (PMC10605826). Conversely, boron has a therapeutic effect on breast cancer (PMC10351539), multiple myeloma (PMC10351539), and cancer (PMC10351539, PMC9416915). It is used as a treatment for inflammation (PMC6273063), hepatitis (PMC6273063), leukemia (PMC6273063), thyroid cancer (PMC12401129), cancer (PMC12373437, PMC13024029, PMC13289660), breast cancer (PMC11084730, PMC13414665), lung cancer (PMC13414665), and hepatocellular carcinoma (PMC13414665).