Hearfelt beads and cancer

[beauvafr]

Crystal or gel.. silicia litter have the crystal mention to it.

[tzaddi]

beauvafr, Heartfelt is a brand name. Use a bit of caution when making statements that should perhaps have question marks after them and should perhaps use the Generic term "Silica Gel". IMHO It appears contentious to stir the pot using the name "Heartfelt". It is an interesting question you pose… but I'm just saying

You have 10 posts to date and all appear to be related to silica gel. Keep doing your research (Google) and I am sure you will find the information you are looking for.

Hazards

Silica gel is non-toxic, non-flammable, and non-reactive and stable with ordinary usage. It will react with hydrogen fluoride, fluorine, oxygen difluoride, chlorine trifluoride, strong acids, strong bases, and oxidizers[5]. Silica gel is irritating to the respiratory tract, may cause irritation of the digestive tract, and dust from the beads may cause irritation to the skin and eyes, so precautions should be taken [6]. Some of the beads may be doped with a moisture indicator, such as cobalt(II) chloride, which is toxic and may be carcinogenic. Cobalt (II) chloride is deep blue when dry (anhydrous) and pink when moist (hydrated).
Crystalline silica dust can cause silicosis but synthetic amorphous silica gel is non-friable, and so does not cause silicosis.

Here is an excerpt from Steven Weintraub's document titled "Demystifying Silica Gel". This excerpt can be found in section 5.1.B-sub-titled "Adding Moisture"

The direct addition of water through mist spraying or immersion is not recommended, since the high heat of decrepitation causes silica gel beads to crack and fragment. Although silica gel retains its hygroscopic properties, the overall response time of silica gel in a tray will slow down because of denser packing from the mix of large beads and smaller fragments.

Anyone who has experienced the "snowy powder" in one of their humidors knows first hand what this paragraph is referring to. In this same section of Steven Weintraub's document you will find other methods of rehydrating Silica Gel Beads that do not cause this condition.

If you care to download the document in a PDF format I have posted it on one of my web pages. If you are the type of person that finds this "nuts & bolts" stuff interesting you'll love all of this technical data and a bit of history regarding Silica Gel.

http://web.mac.com/tzaddi/iWeb/Corde..._SW_2003-1.pdf

—Richard

Steven Weintraub is a Conservator/Environmental Consultant

[s.tyler]

the people that get silicosis usually get it from a job where they inhale large amounts of pulverized sand - its super rare.

[slyder]

Originally Posted by Egis

Silica is found in sand, and quartz too! Imagine getting tan, and all the sand blowing to your face, and you remember this thread, and start running to your car I used to do sanblasting, so I didn't knew sandblasting produces big amount of it! So now Im really scarer hmm, not funny!!! Cause I have few symptoms once in a while. I should see my doctor!

sand blasting is fine.....as long as your NOT using silica based media. This is where aluminum oxide or glass beads come into play. Most NEW sandblasting cabinets come with a sticker on the window that says "do not use this with silica based products."

[Egis]

Originally Posted by slyder

sand blasting is fine.....as long as your NOT using silica based media. This is where aluminum oxide or glass beads come into play. Most NEW sandblasting cabinets come with a sticker on the window that says "do not use this with silica based products."

Yeah thing is I didn't do cabinet sandblasting! I was doing it in a big open area, with a mask on only, and we did it with all kind of different s**t a long time ago, sand, sand with glass, and some other stuff, but I'm glad I only did it for two months not more!!!

[Rubix^3]

"Everyone knows sleep causes cancer"

--Neil
The Young Ones

[Shervin]

Does this mean I have to stop snorting my heartfelt beads?

[beauvafr]

Yup maybe my title is now perfectly well choosen.. sorry.

Just wanted to raise some discussion about the fact that silicia is often related to cancer and we use it for aging cigars. Looks like silicia in it's gel form could be a different story.. but correct me if i'm wrong but this is not cleary stated or documented.

By the way, the stuff I use looks more like that pic and seems more in the crystal form than in a gel form.

[Cigary]

I was a Plant Safety Manager and did research in this some back. While there should always be concern over any chemical. MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets ) put this chemical at a 1 for Health concerns and that is only if you are in an environment where dust is present. Rest assured that in it's current state of kitty litter, beads, etc you are going to be completely safe. You would have to ingest quite a bit of this chemical on a daily basis in order for you to worry about this giving you cancer. You stand a better chance of getting cancer from sunlight than you do with beads and you have to consider the amount of time of your exposure in the sun.

http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9924905

[d_day]

Maybe I can settle this once and for all.

Diatomaceous earth (DE) is almost 100% silica. In its natural form, it is ground up and used as an anti-caking agent in grain storage, and as a food additive in livestock. It is approved by the USDA as a feed supplement. It's also used as a natural pesticide by organic farmers. I use it around my house, and in my garden to kill insects. It is not regulated by OSHA.

It is also used as a filter media in swimming pools. The DE used for fliter media is different in that it is baked at high temperatures and treated with chemicals that cause it to crystallize. This form of DE is very dangerous and can cause silicosis if inhaled over a long period of time. It is not approved as a food additive, and is regulated by OSHA.

The type of hazard posed by inhalation depends on the form of the silica. Crystalline silica poses a serious inhalation hazard because it can cause silicosis. Amorphous silica can cause dusty lungs, but does not carry the same degree of risk as crystalline silica. Natural or dried diatomite generally contains very low percentages of crystalline silica. Diatomite produced for pool filters is treated with high heat (calcining) and a fluxing agent (soda ash), causing the formerly amorphous silicon dioxide to assume its crystalline form.

Silica gel is amorphous, meaning it is not crystallized. Heartfelt beads, and any other silica beads used for humidity control (eg. cat litter) are composed of silica gel, and therefore do not pose a hazard.

Crystalline silica dust can cause silicosis but synthetic amorphous silica gel is non-friable, and so does not cause silicosis.

For more info on DE, check out this page
For more infor on silica gel, check out this page

[MX1]

While I certainly understand the OP's point and concern, it does strike me as a bit funny.

We are posting on a cigar board, about the very minimal risk of developing cancer form Beads...never mind the burning tobacco in our mouth...or the fact that many of us like to have a tasty adult beverage every now and again, but I am sure our livers are doing just fine.

The views express in this or any other post are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, this forum, its owner, membership, or any other sane person walking the face of the earth. The names and events depicted herein are fictitious. No association with any real person, place or event should be inferred. All names have been changed to protect the guilty.

Tim

[Cletus]

Originally Posted by MX1

...or the fact that many of us like to have a tasty adult beverage every now and again, but I am sure our livers are doing just fine.

I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. "Adult beverage"....what is that?? Let me put down my gin & tonic and perform a google search.


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[Ndimarco]

We are posting on a cigar board, about the very minimal risk of developing cancer form Beads...never mind the burning tobacco in our mouth...or the fact that many of us like to have a tasty adult beverage every now and again, but I am sure our livers are doing just fine.

With you on this one! Also along with cell phones, microwaves, radio towers, ect ect emitting radiation that we come in contact with everyday.

Hell with all the stuff that causes cancer now a days, if I'm gonna get cancer, I'd rather get it from something I enjoy doing.

[Sirhuffsalot]

Originally Posted by beauvafr

Did you guys knew that silicia crystal but it's the only ingredient used in heartfelt beads is a known cancer agent ? Correct me if I'm wrong.

Silicosis FYI - silica exposure, occupational safety, silicosis lawyers

Only if you dry it out, grind it up, and inhale it.

Originally Posted by slyder

so could you link kitty litter and kitty cancer?

Sadly, I bet the answer to this is somewhat yes depending on what you use for your feline,

Cheers,
Randy

[Sirhuffsalot]

Originally Posted by Cletus

I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. "Adult beverage"....what is that?? Let me put down my gin & tonic and perform a google search.


.

Adult beverage, like, Adult website. Blahahaha.