AN INVESTIGATION OF POTENTIAL PROBLEM OF INCREASING BORON CONCENTRATIONS IN RIVERS AND WATER COURSES

Sources of pollution by boron are considered and a brief account of the chemical properties of borax and boric acid is given. The literature dealing with boron toxicity in relation to water pollution is summarized. Methods for determining boron in natural waters are discussed and experiments designed to test the application of one of them to sewage and sewage effluents are described. Results of determination of boron in surface waters, sewages, sewage effluents, and industrial effluents, are given and discussed. The insignificant removal of boron from sewage during normal treatment is demonstrated and other methods for reducing the boron content of waters are considered. It is concluded that the boron concentrations at present found in surface waters in the U.K. do not present an immediate toxicity problem. © 1969.