OT - Borax on garden, poisonous?

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Posted by Matt [8421.4633] on July 03, 2008 at 19:47:17:

I have a gardening question that also related to health and toxicity.

My mother sprinkled raw borax all over our squash and cucumbers, thinking it could be used as an insect repellent. Not dilluted. Raw.

Now many of the plants have either died or are dying within 2 days, despite washing it off. Some plants remain, though.

Most of the literature says borax kills plants and renders soil unusable for years. It also can kill people or cause kidney failure in doses around 5-8 grams if ingested raw, I have read.

My question is this. If we wash the vegetables that do make it thru, are we still eating borax that has been somehow absorbed into the plant? Enough to hurt us? Kill us?

Follow Ups:

Re: OT - Borax on garden, poisonous? VF [4572.4274] 01:25:56 07/04/08 (0)
Re: OT - Borax on garden, poisonous? Sapphire [543.4205] 20:10:52 07/03/08 (0)
Re: OT - Borax on garden, poisonous? Jayne [10093.4633] 19:56:13 07/03/08 (0)

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