The typical chemical composition of oven dried diatomaceous earth is 80 to 90% silica, with 2 to 4% alumina (attributed mostly to clay minerals) and 0.5 to 2% iron oxide .[1]
All of this is immaterial because we weren't talking about "DE itself", we were talking about the dangers of pool grade DE.
ICallMyselfCherie' :
Pool grade DE has been treated with chemicals
Now for your information that does pertain to pool grade DE.
Quote:
The type of hazard posed by inhalation depends on the form of the silica.
Crystalline silica poses a serious inhalation hazard because it can cause silicosis.
Amorphous silica can cause dusty lungs, but does not carry the same degree of risk as crystalline silica.
Natural or dried diatomite generally contains very low percentages of crystalline silica.
Diatomite produced for pool filters is treated with high heat (calcining) and a fluxing agent (soda ash), causing the formerly amorphous silicon dioxide to assume its crystalline form
Ah, thank you for saving me the trouble of searching out a reference! Diatomite produced for pool filters is treated with soda ash, or sodium carbonate (Na2CO3), which is a
chemical. Ergo, Diatomite produced for pool filters, or pool grade diatomaceous earth, is
chemically treated.
Here is sodium carbonate's MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet).
http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9927263
Pay special attention to:
Section 7: Handling and Storage
Section 11: Toxicological Information.
And aside from that reference to toxic effects of a substance that is used to treat pool grade DE, you also have repeatedly attested to the fact that pool grade DE is carcinogenic due to calcination. Although "carcinogenic" is not synonymous with "toxic", what does "toxic" mean to you?
Here is one definition:
toxic
adjective Referring to a potentially dangerous chemical or substance.
McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine.
2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Quote:
And if you want to prove somebody wrong, you have to address their actual argument.