🚀 go-pugleaf

Borge Pedersen wrote:
> 
> To my horror, I found that I could have contacted silicosis through
> adding Diatomaceous Earth to my swimming pool filter.
> 
> The product I have used sports a 11kg box with 82mm high red letters
> giving the distributors name as Olin Chemicals of 120 Ridge Road,
> Stamford, CT 06904, USA. There is a warning further down the box in
> much smaller letters asking you to read the back which is in even
> smaller letters still. The biggest letter on the back is 4mm high.
> 
> Then it goes on to tell you that you have to wear a mask and stir the
> powder in water to avoid the silica contained therein. It states that
> the silica is classified as a carcinogenic. That most people will
> recognise as being an item giving you some form of cancer.  In this
> case it would be lung cancer.
> 
> It is suggested that the american goverment make these people toe the
> line laid out for the tobacco industry - ie. make the health warning
> at least as easily visible as the name of the product.
> 

There should be prominent warning to be sure, and the prominence should
be comensurate with the risk.  It seems that it is in this case.

It's common knowledge that just about any fine powder that's inhaled may
cause lung problems -- fibreglass, wheat dust, coal dust, quarry dust
(silica again)... the list goes on.

On the other hand, the risk of contracting silicosis from casual
exposure to diatomaceous earth is immeasurably small.  Chronic exposure
would be a problem.  Changing your pool filter once in a blue moon won't
be fatal.

-- 
Bernie Morey
Melbourne, Australia
"<u>bmorey@aardvark.apana.org.au</u>"