Occupational protection

Safety at the workplace: what to consider when using Neuburg Siliceous Earth ?

When handling or working with Sillitin and Aktisil fillers, their fine particle size can give rise to an undesirable generation of lung-penetrating (fibrogenic) dusts. This possibility has, therefore, to be taken into appropriate account when establishing a work-hygienic ‚Risk Assessment’.

Phase analytical studies of Neuburg Siliceous Earth have shown the presence of kryptocrystallinic silica. For this portion – if present in the form of dust – a fibrogenous (or fibrotic) action cannot be excluded, which means that inhalation of high amounts of such dust over long periods of time potentially can lead to silicosis. It is consequently advisable to monitor the dust exposure and comply with existing limits.

This quartz-like risk potential, as well as the discussion started in 1997 by IARC with the new classification of quartz, has also lead to in-depth studies with respect to toxicological effects of Neuburg Siliceaous Earth, whose silica content until very recently was thought to be composed of quartz. Several in vitro investigations at IBE (Bruch et al., 2001-2007) with cross-validation by in vivo experiments, upon analysis of the vector model have confirmed a markedly different toxicological profile for Neuburg Siliceous Earth, in the direction of a considerably lower toxicity level as compared with other quartz-containing products.

We would like to draw your attention at this point to a qualifying statement found in 1997 IARC Monographs, which puts the classification of quartz as carcinogenic to humans (Group I) into perspective in a most interesting way:

“As part of their overall assessment, the IARC working group noted that a carcinogenic effect was not found in all the industrial situations examined. A carcinogenic effect may depend on the properties inherent to crystalline silica or on external factors, which influence the biological activity or the distribution of silica polymorphs.”

Hoffmann Mineral has over one hundred years of experience in working with Neuburg siliceous earth and has been able to draw the following conclusions:

Silicosis:
If the concentration of cryptocrystalline silica found in the alveolar content at the workplace is ≤ 0.10 mg/m³, it is almost certain that no silicotic disease will result.

Lung cancer:
If the fine dust concentration specified above, which prevents silicosis, is observed, all associated cancer risks will also be excluded.