Silica is a supplement ingredient known for helping to create beautiful hair, nails and skin.
But you don’t want to breathe it.
Crystalline silica dust, which those who work in industrial occupations such as sandblasting, drilling, and manufacturing are frequently exposed to, can be quite harmful. Tiny airborne particles of silica dust are able to penetrate the lungs, which can cause silicosis (an incurable lung disease), lung cancer, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), and kidney disease.
Like so much in life, the same resource that can be beneficial under certain conditions is harmful in others.
To help protect workers, OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration) developed a Respirable Crystalline Silica in Construction standard. The standard established a new PEL of 50 µg/m3 for all covered industries, as well as requiring additional employee protections, such as:
- performing exposure assessments
- using exposure control methods
- respiratory protection
- medical surveillance
- developing hazard communication information
- keeping silica-related records.
Expanding Danger
So you might think that if you aren’t involved in industry, silica isn’t a concern, because OSHA’s on it. Think again.
Silica has so many commercial applications that it’s now become a hazard to the general public. Silica can be hiding in your:
- cosmetics
- pet litter
- talcum powder
- paint
Impact can help on at least one of these fronts. As you’re well aware, all of our products are created to be non-toxic and environmentally friendly. Our flagship absorbent, Spill Hero Universal Absorbent, is an ecological dry formula composed of an inert natural mineral that poses NO risk of crystalline silica during liquid spill clean up. It’s non-leaching and fully encapsulates all liquids, outclassing clay, cat litter and diatomaceous earth (D.E.). Better for cats, too, as they also breathe in the toxic dust from clay litter.
So by using Spill Hero Universal, you’re protecting the health of your business, home, and any cats that reside there.
As far as the personal care products, we suggest searching online for non-toxic alternatives. More brands are focused on ecology and health these days — as we’ve been for more than 30 years.
As far as the other kind of dust: even when there isn’t a spill clean up issue at hand, a good broom and dustpan and brush set can do wonders. And a little elbow grease — which won’t require a Grease Catcher System.
