Boron & compounds: Sources of emissions
Industry sources
Boron can be released from industries that use boron and boron compounds, e.g. leather tanning, cement works, and glass works.
Diffuse sources, and industry sources included in diffuse emissions data
Boron can be released from household use of consumer products containing borates such as cosmetics, washing powders, or pesticides, and sub-threshold facilities.
Natural sources
Boron is not an abundant element. The element boron does not occur in nature and boron is mostly found combined with oxygen in compounds called borates. Common borate compounds include boric acid, salts of borates and boron oxide. Natural deposits of borates are borax and kernite. Tourmaline contains about 10 % boron.
Boron is released to the environment from natural sources such as volcanoes and geothermal steam. Traces are present in rocks, soil, water and some food.
Transport sources
Mobile sources are normally not associated with the emission of boron.
Consumer products
Heat-resistant household glassware (Pyrex), laboratory glassware, some soap, some pesticides, some cosmetics and laundry products, some leather products and some cement products.
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