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Health Concerns for Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous earth (DE) is produced by the accumulation of the skeletal remains of diatoms, which are fossilized remnants of algae. Mining of DE introduces silica dust into the air and can lead to cancers of the lung and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The incidence of lung disease caused by the exposure to silica has sharply decreased since safeguards have been implemented to limit the exposure of workers to silica dust.

  1. Silica-Associated Systemic Sclerosis

    • Silica-associated systemic sclerosis describes the accumulation of collagen and other substances in connective tissues, such as the lining of the lung, which prevents the organs from expanding. A study in the October 2010 issue of "Joint, Bone, Spine" investigated the cause of this disease in a 52-year-old wine maker, who was continually exposed to DE during the filtration process in the production of wine. The researchers found that the exposure to DE caused the lining of his lungs to become sclerotic and classified his disease as occupational-related.

    Silicosis

    • Silicosis is a lung disease caused by breathing in silica dust, which leads to scarring of the tissue and prevents normal lung function. An article appearing in the October 2007 issue of "Review of Environmental Health" evaluated the risk of silicosis, in the form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, for those exposed to silica in the DE processing industry. The authors found that exposure to dust containing silica at concentrations above 0.1 mg per cubic meter of air leads to impaired lung function.

    Cristobalite Exposure

    • Cristobalite is a form of silica that has a slightly different molecular shape, which is caused by heating. This compound is often a by-product of the DE industry that escapes into the atmosphere. A study published in the November 2003 issue of "Applied Occupational and Environmental Hygiene" reported that the incidence of lung cancer and silicosis of workers in the DE industry is directly related to the amount of cristobalite dust produced at DE mining facilities.

    Incidence of Lung Cancer

    • A research article published in the July 1993 issue of "Occupational and Environmental Medicine" reviewed the causes of deaths of workers from two DE mining facilities in California. The authors reviewed their death certificates and found that the incidence of lung cancer and non-cancerous lung diseases was significantly increased compared to the general population. The study concluded that, however, the rates of these disease have decreased since the 1950s, when regulations were enacted to control exposure to silica dust.

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