Safety considerations

Our Perma-Guard Fossil Shell Flour is pure freshwater Diatomaceous Earth.
It is of the highest quality, being greater than 99.5% amorphous silica and less than 1/2% crystalline silica.

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. Thus, it is imperative that only natural diatomaceous earth be used for insect control. 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)."

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.

 !!  Swimming Pool Grade DE is chemically treated and partially melted and consequently contains crystalline silica which can be a respiratory hazard. Thus, it is imperative that only natural diatomaceous earth be used for insect control. !!

Trace Elements: For a breakdown of the trace elements, go to:  http://www.vitaletherapeutics.org/deanlsbw.htm  CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF DIATOMACEOUS EARTH

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.

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MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEETS  (MSDS)

Perma-Guard Fossil Shell Flour      D-10

Perma-Guard Commercial Insecticide D-20

Perma-Guard Household Insecticide D-20

Perma-Guard Pet and Animal Insecticide D-20

Perma-Guard Garden and Plant Insecticide D-21

Pet and Animal Material Safety Data Sheet-Organic One™

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