be careful about description of borax and other borates
Borax is sodium tetraborate. It is most commonly available in decahydrate form. The sodium salt of boric acid is called sodium metaborate. Borax, once dissolved in water, is equivalent to a equimolar mixture of boric acid and sodium metaborate dissolved in water. All these borates have mild plant toxicity and are not very desirable to discharge to the environment, especially in sensitive areas. Borates are not removed by usual water treatment, and they are not decomposed by usual bacteria. So about the only way to reduce the harm is massive dilution. (Same goes to EDTA, DTPA, NTA, etc.) -- Ryuji Suzuki http://silvergrain.org
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