Bill Keen wrote:
> Terry, Check your facts. There are no crystals in DE. It is a > naturally occurring calceous product of organic origin and is not > processed. > No, DE contains crystalline silica. If it didn't then it would not > work, it is the source of the sharp crystals that kill the parasites. > Just where did you get the info that you are supporting? Have you > done ANY research for yourself or have you just listened to the > nonsense some self-proclaimed 'experts' have given you? > > That information is available many places. For instance the page from > Walton feeds: http://waltonfeed.com/grain/faqs/ive.html > > IMPORTANT NOTE: There are actually two kinds of diatomaceous earth to > be found on the market and only one of them is suitable for use as an > insecticide to use in your stored grains. The kind that you DO NOT > WANT FOR FOOD USE is the type sold by swimming pool suppliers as a > filtering agent. DE to be used for filtering has been subjected to a > heat treatment that dramatically increases it's crystalline silicate > content and makes it unsuitable for use with your foodstuffs. The > diatomaceous earth that is needed for use in food storage has not been > heat treated and has a crystalline silica content of no more than > 1-1.5%. It is commonly sold in hardware and garden stores as an > "organic pesticide" and is available from a number of storage food > dealers. A number of these suppliers are listed in the Resources > section. > > and > > Good afternoon all. Diatomaceous earth is approved by the USDA as an > animal feed additive, however I have found out that there are vast > differences between various forms of diatomaceous earth. Some DE > products may not be effective in controlling insects, while others may > be harmful to humans and pets. The most important differences between > individual forms of DE is the shape of the diatom, content of > Crystalline Silica, and the purity of the Silica Dioxide. The World > Health Organization cautions that DE with a crystalline silica content > of three percent or higher is dangerous to humans, (and probably pets > and birds as well). Diatomaceous Earth used in swimming pool filters > has close to a 60% crystalline silica content. I know of a product > called Organic Solutions (insecticide) which is approved by both the > EPA and USDA and has a crystalline silica content ranging between > 0.36% to 1.12% according to its labels etc. It is classified as > Amorphous Fresh Water Diatomaceous Earth (whatever that means). > However, all literature I have read assures it is safe for both humans > and animals and seems to be very effective at killing insects. I have > never found 'Food Grade' and therefore never used it. A natural > substance, ground up and bagged, had no serious contaminants. > That is all I buy, it is available on many sites on the net, and at > feed stores. Check > http://www.gardenharvestsupply.com/de_permaguard.aspx > http://www.dirtworks.net/DiatomaceousEarth.html > > ttp://www.herbalremedies.com/diatomaceous.html?source=google&engine=adwords!32&keyword=%28diatomaceous+earth+food+grade%29&match_type= > > http://www.diatomaceous-earth.net/ > You appear to be a 'sheeple' who believes that the Feds have all the > answers to your problems. That is what "food grade' really is - a > federal scam. > > No, it means that it has not been heat processed, which destroys it's > abilities to kill parasites. Heat treating improves it's filtering > capability for swimming pool filters, but destroys it's ability to cut > up the parasites. It is not a scam, just the judicial choice of using > the proper tool for the appropriate job. I have never paid the > exhorbitant sums they ask for the pool filter DE but I have checked > the bags/boxes and they are the same as the feed store variety. > > I am confused, you say you have never used the pool filter variety, > and have never seen the food grade stuff above. But then you say that > you compared food grade stuff from the feed store with the pool filter > variety. Which is it, have you seen it or not? Plus if you don't use > the pool filter variety nor the food grade variety from the feed > store, then just what is it that you do use? > > Also how did you check them? What power microscope did you use? Can > you post pictures? There is no gurantee that the pool stuff you > checked has been heat treated, but since it can be, it is a gamble to > use it. Checking the label would of course be useless, since they do > not label any heat treatment it may have received. > > Those that have used the ! pool filter source have reported that > there were no clumps or anything else different from what I showed > them in my bag. > > I don't think the problem is that it has clumps. It must not be heat > treated which causes the sharp points on the silica crystals to > crumble and become ineffective or causes the amorphous silica to form > crystals increasing the amount to be above the safe level depending on > the level of heat and the time it is applied. However there may be > some clumping, once again I would need to know what power microscope > was used to determine if there was any clumping of the diatoms since > it would be impossible to tell by the naked eye. > > Marshall > > > > Bill Keen > > Terry Chamberlin <[email protected]> wrote: > > > The easiest and cheapest for people and pets to get > rid of > > intestinal worms is DE (diatomaceous earth) > available at the > > local feed store or pool supply (much higher priced > there). > > This is quite important: You should only use FOOD > GRADE diatomaceous earth, not the stuff used in pools. > The packaging must say FOOD GRADE. > > The pool stuff has been heated too much in processing, > and it has melted the crystals into chunks that should > not be ingested. > > Nurseries carry it, and sometimes feed stores. >
