KENITE DIATOMITE
Flammability | 0 | |
Toxicity | 2 | |
Body Contact | 2 | |
Reactivity | 0 | |
Chronic | 0 | |
SCALE: Min/Nil=0 Low=1 Moderate=2 High=3 Extreme=4 |
Filtration, clarifying and decolourising of solutions; mild abrasive. Kenite DE for
swimming pool filtration. Also Micro- Ken grades.
silica, "silicon dioxide calcined diatomite", "flux calcined diatomaceous earth"
Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through
inhalation.
Although ingestion is not thought to produce harmful effects, the material may still be damaging to the health of the individual following ingestion, especially where pre- existing organ (e.g. liver, kidney) damage is evident. Present definitions of harmful or toxic substances are generally based on doses producing mortality (death) rather than those producing morbidity (disease, ill-health). Gastrointestinal tract discomfort may produce nausea and vomiting. In an occupational setting however, ingestion of insignificant quantities is not thought to be cause for concern. Considered an unlikely route of entry in commercial/industrial environments.
Although the material is not thought to be an irritant, direct contact with the eye may produce transient discomfort characterized by tearing or conjunctival redness (as with windburn). The dust may produce eye discomfort and abrasive eye inflammation.
The material is not thought to produce adverse health effects or skin irritation following contact (as classified using animal models). Nevertheless, good hygiene practice requires that exposure be kept to a minimum and that suitable gloves be used in an occupational setting.
The material is not thought to produce adverse health effects or irritation of the respiratory tract (as classified using animal models). Nevertheless, good hygiene practice requires that exposure be kept to a minimum and that suitable control measures be used in an occupational setting. Persons with impaired respiratory function, airway diseases and conditions such as emphysema or chronic bronchitis, may incur further disability if excessive concentrations of particulate are inhaled.
Primary route of exposure is usually by inhalation of generated dust. Long term exposure to high dust concentrations may cause changes in lung function i.e. pneumoconiosis; caused by particles less than 0.5 micron penetrating and remaining in the lung. Prime symptom is breathlessness; lung shadows show on X-ray. Effects on lungs are significantly enhanced in the presence of respirableparticles. Symptoms of pneumoconiosis are shadows in X-rays of lungs, breathlessness, (exertional dyspnea), altered breath sounds, diminished capacity with low oxygen uptake during exercise, emphysema and pneumothrorax (air in lung cavity) as a rare complication. Removing workers from possibility of further exposure to dust generally leads to halting the progress of the lung abnormalities. Where worker dust exposure potential is high, periodic examinations with an emphasis on lung dysfunctions are to be recommended.