Diatomaceous earth is made from the fossilized remains of tiny, aquatic organisms called diatoms. Their
skeletons
are made of a natural substance called silica. Over a long period of time, diatoms accumulated in the
sediment
of
rivers, streams, lakes, and oceans. Today, silica deposits are mined from these areas.
Silica is very common in nature and makes up 26% of the earth's crust by weight.
Various forms of silica include sand, emerald, quartz, feldspar, mica, clay, asbestos,
and glass. Silicon, a component of silica, does not exist naturally in its pure
form. It usually reacts with oxygen and water to form silicon dioxide. Silicon dioxide has two naturally
occurring forms: crystalline and amorphous. Most diatomaceous earth is made
of amorphous silicon dioxide. However, it can contain very low levels of crystalline
silicon dioxide. The first pesticide products containing silicon dioxide
(diatomaceous earth) were registered in 1960 to kill insects and mites.
What are some products that contain diatomaceous earth?
Products
containing diatomaceous earth are most commonly dusts. Other formulations
include wettable powders
and pressurized liquids. Currently, there are over 150 products registered for use inside and outside of
buildings,
farms, gardens, and pet kennels. Some products can also be used directly on dogs and cats. Diatomaceous
earth
products are registered for use against bed bugs, cockroaches, crickets, fleas, ticks,
spiders, and many
other pests.
There are thousands of non-pesticide products that contain diatomaceous earth. These include skin care
products,
toothpastes, foods, beverages, medicines, rubbers, paints, and water filters. The Food & Drug Administration
lists
diatomaceous earth as "Generally Recognized as Safe". "Food grade" diatomaceous earth products are purified.
They
may be used as anticaking materials in feed, or as clarifiers for wine and beer.
IMPORTANT: Always follow
label
instructions and take steps to minimize
exposure. If any exposures occur, be sure to follow the First
Aid instructions on the product label carefully. For additional treatment advice, contact the Poison
Control
Center at 800-222-1222. If you wish to discuss
a
pesticide
problem, please call
NPIC at 800-858-7378.
How does diatomaceous earth work?
Diatomaceous earth is not poisonous; it does not have to be eaten in order to be effective. Diatomaceous
earth
causes insects to dry out and die by absorbing the oils and fats from the cuticle of the insect's
exoskeleton.
Its sharp
edges are abrasive, speeding up the process. It remains effective as long as it is kept dry and undisturbed.
How might I be exposed to diatomaceous earth?
People can be exposed to diatomaceous earth if they breathe in the dust, eat
it, get it on their skin, or get it in their eyes. For example, when applying the
dust or when entering a treated area before the dust has settled. Exposures
can also occur if products are accessible to children or pets. Exposure can be
limited by reading and following label directions.
What are some signs and symptoms from a brief exposure to diatomaceous
earth?
If inhaled
If breathed in, diatomaceous earth can irritate the nose and nasal passages. If an extremely
large amount is inhaled, people may cough and have shortness of breath.
If in the eyes
Diatomaceous earth may also irritate the eyes, due to its abrasive nature. Any dust,
including silica, can be irritating to the eyes.
If on the skin
On skin, it can cause irritation and dryness.
What happens to diatomaceous earth when it enters the body?
When diatomaceous earth is eaten, very little is absorbed into the body. The remaining portion is rapidly
excreted.
Small amounts of silica are normally present in all body tissues, and it is normal to find silicon
dioxide
in
urine. In one
study, people ate a few grams of diatomaceous earth. The amount of silicon dioxide in their urine was
unchanged.
After inhalation of amorphous diatomaceous earth, it is rapidly eliminated from lung tissue.
However,
crystalline diatomaceous
earth is much smaller, and it may accumulate in lung tissue and lymph nodes. Very low levels of
crystalline
diatomaceous earth may be found in pesticide products.
Is diatomaceous earth likely to contribute to the development of
cancer?
When mice were forced to breathe diatomaceous earth for one hour each day for a year, there was an
increase
in
lung
cancers. When rats were fed silica at a high dose for two years, there was no increase in cancer
development.
Most diatomaceous earth is made of amorphous silicon dioxide. However, it can contain very low
levels
of
crystalline
silicon dioxide. Amorphous diatomaceous earth has not been associated with any cancers in people.
Has anyone studied non-cancer effects from long-term exposure to
diatomaceous earth?
In a rabbit study, researchers found no health effects after applying diatomaceous earth to the rabbits'
skin
five times
per week for three weeks. In a rat study, researchers fed rats high doses of diatomaceous earth for six
months.
They
found no reproductive or developmental effects. In another rat study, the only effect was more rapid
weight
gain. That
study involved 90 days of feeding rats with a diet made of 5% diatomaceous earth.
When guinea pigs were forced to breathe air containing diatomaceous earth for 2 years, there was slightly
more
connective
tissue in their lungs. When researchers checked before the 2-year mark, no effects were found.
A very small amount of crystalline diatomaceous earth may be found in pesticide products.
Long-term
inhalation of
the crystalline form is associated with silicosis, chronic bronchitis, and other respiratory problems.
The
bulk
of diatomaceous
earth is amorphous, not crystalline. The amorphous form is only associated with mild,
reversible
lung inflammation.
Are children more sensitive to diatomaceous earth than adults?
Children may be
especially sensitive to pesticides compared to adults.
However,
there are currently no data to conclude
that children have an increased sensitivity specifically to diatomaceous earth.
What happens to diatomaceous earth in the environment?
Silicon is a major component of diatomaceous earth. It is the second most abundant element in soils. It's a common component of rocks, sands, and clays. It is also abundant in plants and plays a role in their growth and development. Due to its chemical makeup, diatomaceous earth is not degraded by microbes or by sunlight. Also, it does not emit vapors or dissolve well in water.
The ocean contains vast amounts of diatomaceous earth. Many marine
organisms use it to build their skeletons.
Can diatomaceous earth affect birds, fish, or other wildlife?
Diatomaceous earth is practically non-toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates. It is commonly encountered
by
birds
and other wildlife, and it's not known to be harmful. However, no
toxicity
evaluations for wildlife were found. Agencies
have stated that diatomaceous earth is unlikely to affect birds, fish, or other wildlife in a harmful
way.
Diatomaceous earth is made of silicon dioxide. When chickens were fed a diet that contained less silicon
dioxide
than
normal, their bone formation was harmed. This suggests that silicon dioxide plays an important role in
bone
formation.
Where can I get more information?
For more detailed information about diatomaceous earth please visit the list of referenced
resources or call
the National Pesticide Information Center, Monday - Friday, between 8:00am - 12:00pm Pacific Time
(11:00am -
3:00pm Eastern Time) at 800-858-7378 or visit us on the web at
http://npic.orst.edu.
NPIC
provides objective, science-based
answers to
questions about pesticides.
Date Reviewed: January 2013
Please cite as: Bunch, T. R.; Bond, C.; Buhl, K.; Stone, D. 2013.
Diatomaceous Earth General Fact Sheet;
National Pesticide Information Center, Oregon State University Extension Services. npic.orst.edu/factsheets/degen.html.
References:
Pesticide Product Information System; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Government Printing Office: Washington, DC, 2012.
Reregistration Eligibility Document (RED) Silicon Dioxide and Silica Gel; U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances, Office of Pesticide Programs, U.S. Government Printing Office: Washington, DC, 1991.
Bertke, E. M. The effect of ingestion of diatomaceous earth in white rats: A subacute toxicity test. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 1964, 6 (3), 284-291.
IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans-Silica Summary of Data Reported and Evaluation; World Health Organization, Internation Agency for Research on Cancer: Geneva, 1997; Vol. 68.
Synthetic Amorphous Silica and Silicates. Screening Information Datasets (SIDS) for High Volume Chemicals; Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, United Nations Environment Programme Chemicals Branch: Berlin, 2004.
Elsea, J. R. Unpublished report, 1958, submitted to World Health Organization by Hazelton Laboratories, Inc. Toxicological evaluation of some food additives including anticaking agents, antimircobials, antioxidants, emulsifiers and thickening agents; Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Health Organization: Geneva, 1974.
Epstein, E. The anomaly of silicon in plant biology. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 1994, 91 (1), 11-17.
Diatomaceous Earth... A Reduced-Risk Pesticide; Arizona Cooperative Extension. Pest Press 2006, 6.
Lewinson, J.; Mayr, W.; Wagner, H. Characterization and toxicological behavior of synthetic amorphous hydrophobic silica. Regul. Toxicol. Pharmacol. 1994, 20, 37-57.
Martin, K. R. The chemistry of silica and its potential health benefits. J. Nutr. Health Aging 2007, 11 (2), 94-97.
Bhardwaj, V.; Mirliss, M. J. Diatomaceous Earth Filtration for Drinking Water; National Drinking Water Clearinghouse: Morgantown, WV.
Pratt, P. C. Lung Dust Content and Response in Guinea Pigs Inhaling Three Forms of Silica. Arch. Environ. Health 1983, 38 (4), 197-204.
Frequently Asked Questions - Diatomaceous Earth; Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Air Quality Division: Portland, OR, 2011.
Reigart, J. R.; Roberts, J. R. Miscellaneous pesticides, solvents, and adjuvants. Recognition and Management of Pesticide Poisonings, 5th ed.; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances, U.S. Government Printing Office: Washington, DC, 1999.
Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet-Silica, Cristobalite; New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, Right to Know Program: Trenton, NJ, 1999.
Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) Substances Database; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U. S. Food and Drug Administration: Silver Spring, MD, 2006
Toxicological evaluation of some food additives including anticaking agents, antimircobials, antioxidants, emulsifiers and thickening agents; Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Health Organization: Geneva, 1974.
NPIC fact sheets are designed to answer questions
that
are
commonly
asked by the general public about pesticides that are regulated by the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). This document is
intended to be educational in nature and helpful to consumers for
making decisions about pesticide use.