Is DE Hazardous?
Excerpt from The IPM Practitioner, Monitoring the Field of Pest
Management, William Quarles, Volume XIV, Number 5/6, May/June 1992.
"Both swimming pool grade and natural diatomaceous earth come from the
same fossil sources, but they are processed differently. The natural
grades are mined, dried, ground, sifted and bagged. The pool grade is
chemically treated and partially melted and consequently contains
crystalline silica which can be a respiratory hazard. This non-crystalline silica is not a hazard as the human body
apparently can dissolve it."
"Ingestion of diatomaceous earth is not toxic to mammals. Rats fed a
daily diet containing 5% freshwater diatomaceous earth show no
abnormalities after 90 days (Bertke 1964). Dairy farms sometimes feed
their animals food containing 1 to 2% diatomaceous earth to control
worms and other internal parasites (Allen 1972). Impoverished humans add
"fossil flour" to their baked goods in order to stretch their flour
supply (Cummins 1975). It is so safe for use on food that the FDA has
exempted diatomaceous earth from requirements of fixed residue levels
when added to stored grain (Fed. Reg. 1961). The U.S. EPA also allows
its use in food storage and processing areas (Fed. Reg. 1981)."
If you are concerned about breathing the dust, then avoid breathing
it by using a dust mask. Once the DE dust has settled it won't bother
you.
What you want to do with DE is apply a very light coating. If you
are applying it in a way that you are kicking up visible dust, you are
putting too much down.
Important! Do not
confuse our Perma Guard products with the
Diatomaceous Earth (DE) that is used in swimming pool filters!
This type can harm you and your animals because of the different
processing.
The absorbent qualities of diatomaceous earth can result in a
significant drying of the hands if handled without gloves. The
saltwater form contains the highly crystalline form of silica
resulting in sharp edges. The sharpness of this version of the material
makes it dangerous to breathe and a dust mask is recommended when
working with it.
The type of hazard posed by inhalation depends on the form of the
silica. Crystalline silica (silicon dioxide) poses a serious inhalation
hazard because it can cause silicosis and can eventually lead to cancer.
Amorphous silica can cause dusty lungs, but does not carry the same
degree of risk as crystalline silica.
Food-grade diatomaceous earth generally contains very low percentages of
crystalline silica.
Diatomaceous earth produced
for pool filters is treated with heat, causing the formerly amorphous
silicon dioxide to assume crystalline form; so if you want to know the
risk you are assuming with exposure to diatomaceous earth, it is
important to ascertain its crystalline silica content.
(copied from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diatomaceous_earth)
The absorbent
qualities of diatomaceous earth can result in a significant
drying of the hands if handled without gloves.
The type of hazard posed by inhalation depends on the form of
the silica. Crystalline silica (silicon dioxide) poses a serious
inhalation hazard because it can cause silicosis and can
eventually lead to cancer. Amorphous silica can cause dusty
lungs, but does not carry the same degree of risk as crystalline
silica. Food-grade diatomaceous earth contains very low
percentages of crystalline silica.
Do EPA Registrations apply to this product?
EPA (The Environmental Protection Agency) was formed by Congress
for the purpose of registering and regulating the use and sale
of toxic materials. Probably the most important thing they
oversee for the health and safety of the nation are
insecticides, herbicides and fungicides.
For example, anyone wanting to market a product claiming to
kill insects must apply to EPA for a registration number, with
acceptable data presented. On acceptance by EPA, a number is
assigned to the product and the manufacturer can begin
production and sales.
Any product offered for insect control not having an EPA
number is in violation of the law and the seller can be subject
to serious penalties. Perma-Guard insecticides have all the
necessary EPA registrations.
MATERIAL SAFETY
DATA
SHEETS (MSDS)
Perma-Guard Fossil
Shell Flour
Perma-Guard Grain and Seed Storage
D-10
Perma-Guard
Commercial Insecticide D-20
Perma-Guard Fire Ant D-20
Perma-Guard
Household Insecticide D-20
Perma-Guard
Pet and Animal Insecticide D-20
Perma-Guard
Garden and Plant Insecticide D-21
Organic
One™-Pet and Animal Material Safety Data Sheet
