>Borate is a non-toxic salt that is able to migrate to moist areas >where insects or fungi are active. BIG has it right here. Be aware that in the chemical world, that "-ate" on the end can make all the difference. Sodium borate, also called borax, isn't the same thing as boric acid, but is instead a salt made up of of sodium and boric acid. (For anyone who cares, boric acid is H3BO3, and borax is Na2B4O7-10H2O.) As it happens, though, *both* may be dangerous, though it appears that borate may be less dangerous than boric acid. (But be aware that salts generally release their individual components easily - in other words dissolve some borate and you'll get some boric acid.) Search for "borate poisoning" on the web and you'll come up with a considerable number of hits. "Safe" pesticides always assume careful handling by humans. If you don't touch it, don't eat it, and don't breath it, you're fairly safe. Unfortunately our fuzzy friends can't be counted on to stay out of that exciting new powder with the funny smell that just appeared along the baseboards... roger & the weezul missing bear and lancelot [Posted in FML issue 4261]