Diatomaceous earth--- Really that harmless?????

[SandyK]

I'm wondering if the food grade DE will kill the slugs on my hostas like the pool supply DE will. Anyone know?

Sandy

 

[patandchickens]

Sorry, but silica is not "a gel" (yes, I know the stuff sold for flower drying is called silica gel, but nonetheless, in practical terms even the flower-drying stuff is hard dry crystalline bits). Silica is silicon dioxide, which you may know better as the mineral quartz which includes a number of semiprecious gemstones.

Food grade DE it is the microscopic hard outer cases (made largely of silica) of long-dead planktonic diatoms (a kind of algae). So, yes, DE "is" silica, in a general sense anyhow.

Food grade DE works fine to kill ants and *repel* slugs, so I would expect it'd kill slugs just as well as pool/garden grade DE does.

Montmorillonite is a type of fine clay. I use Red Lake brand food grade DE-clay mix and it works fine to 'discourage' mites (AFAIK even pure DE does not do a good job of treating an existing significant infestation on the birds, though). I assume it'd also work fine for most or all of the other various things some people tend to splash DE around for, although to me it'd be a lot better to address the root problems there.


Pat

 

[Whispering Winds]

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[augustmomx2]

I have asthma and applied DE in the coop & run without a mask

I was using my rescue inhaler all night long!

Now tho, since its integrated with the litter and ground, it doesn't get "kicked-up" and I haven't had any probs since.

I have noticed a HUGE difference in regards to flies, so I will continue to use it.

 

[MAXXX]

Hi,

i just got "Food grade-chemical DE" from near by pet store. It's packed from wolf creek ranch. http://www.wolfcreekranch.net/

I had this problems that something biting my ankles & so I treated my R.V. with DE.

I put some of them in my old socks and spread the powders by patting it inside of my old motorhome where i think i've got bitten.

the problems is that it really flew up in a air and i think i inhaled them through my nostiles a little. I totally forgot to wear my mask and all... felt & smelled like someone was cleaning & patting black chalkboard eraser right infront of my face like when i was in a school long ago. lol (Actually , my schoolmate hit all of my face & hair with chalkboard erasers ...back then... I became looked like a some kind of primitive tribe's huntsman... That remenber...)

well, I had no symptoms of coughing or irritations on my throat whatsoever at this time.

But i found some scary informations on a internets later that it is very dangerous to inhale them because of it might causes cancer in a lungs much later in life. oh man!..it's already too late....

It started makes me worried & made me thinking "what's going to happens to me!" & i don't think noone can take them out from my systems even with doctors.

What should I do? Does anyone here had similar experience in past?? Am I going to die?

Thanks

 

[MrsSmitho]

The way I have always understood it is the DE is dead diatoms, a very, very small, exoskeleton critter that lives in the oceans.
The dead bodies, if you will, act like shards of glass to pests like fleas, worms in animals, etc. I do know from experience, baby animals 6 wks or less will die if exposed, they basically get cut up in their intestines. I also know it is an irritant if you inhale it, if inhaled enough, I am sure it could cause a lot of damage. I have not ever heard of it causing cancer. The stuff has been around a long time, we have used it for many things forever. I also know it will irritate the eyes...but that is it.
Hope that helps and if there is someone who knows different, please share!!

 

[macnugget]

You should fine it is different than pool grade which is harmful

 

[MAXXX]

Thank you for replies,

No, I did not felt anything on my eyes at that time.

instead, i was watching bit of like a weak smokes like someone blowing a cigaret's smokes in a air. take it that way.

yes, i did totally breathing inside of my trailor & waited all the dust comes down to the floors even....

when i take a look at my nostils my nose hair was totally white...covered with powders...

let's take it from here.... (Oh, man..if i think about it again...this sounds terrible! lol )

I believe every human has a Mucus produced by the membrane traps many dust particles and other debris naturally. ...

But, i have no idea what it's going to do with this levels of DE contaminations into my human respiratory tract... & it does contains low percentages of silica that's what i heard....

Yes, It's says on the white sticker......it is 2 pound Food-Chemical Grade DE came from Wolf creeks ranch. http://www.wolfcreekranch.net/

but i'm still worried....I hope i won't suffers like a my old man with lung cancers whom already died 2 years ago...

 

[ging3rhoffman]

Meyers Hatchery sells DE, They list it as "Red Lake Earth".
My girls have never had lice or mites or even worms for that
matter. I am very very paticular though and hold them and
check them daily for anything abnormal. I check them over
from toe to beak.

 

[MAXXX]

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