Sweet PDZ Inhalation Risks?

[Essentia]

Edit: Never mind, I just realized these are the same links that were originally brought up.

 

[starleomach]

I need to go get a bag. I have two 50lb bags of blue cloud in the garage but I am saving the blue cloud for show animals during show season

 

[Spoof]

Should have left the links up, MSDS sheets are public info. Though they didn't talk about the product, just the basic hazards of silica dust which the product contains <5% of.

My boss thought blue cloud had more than that in it, and it may explain why people become 'allergic' to it within a few months or years. I'd love to find an MSDS sheet on that mine, I imagine you could at the health district they were located near in CA.

That's not to say either one is better, but the PDZ definitely goes less airborne than BC. It will be interesting to see what people think when show season rolls around and we all switch back...

 

[alli713]

Don't the bags of blue cloud say that they don't have silica in the dust?

Anyways, if the mine does stop producing, what will people with show chins use?

 

[Spoof]

Don't the bags of blue cloud say that they don't have silica in the dust?

:rofl: Shoot, you're lucky if the bags of blue cloud say "Blue Cloud" on them!! lol.

I've not yet seen a bag (and they've bagged in some off-the-wall bags) that listed what was in it. Anyone have one that does?

 

[alli713]

The front of mine says "Contains no Arsenic, Free Silica, or Lime" so that was my reason for saying that I thought they didn't have silica in them.

 

[Spoof]

Cool. Free Silica is different than containing silica. Free Silica is normally considered a contaminant vs. part of the mineral composition.

 

[alli713]

ah okay, I wondered if free silica was different than the plain silica lol

 

[Essentia]

Off of what I read on another forum, Sweet PDZ is more like 66% Silica?

Sweet PDZ
Chemical Properties
SiO2 66.03%
Al203 10.47%
CaO 1.55%
MgO 0.58%
TiO2 0.13%
Na2 3.25%
K2O 1.81%
Fe203 1.12%
Mn0 0.027%


http://www.azom.com/Details.asp?ArticleID=1114

 

[Stackie]

Thanks for posting that Crysta. I was wondering how the ratios compared between PDZ & Blue Cloud.

 

[Spoof]

One of my favorite topics - minerals and gemstones.

Silica is the mineral name for Quartz. Rose quartz, clear quartz, my favorite - star quartz, Sandstone, and almost all sands found in the united states are made up of silica.

Blue Cloud and SweetPDZ are both mined from San Bernardino county. Not necessarily the same geological load, but within the same range.

I emailed the company that mines SweetPDZ and asked for information.

Blue Cloud is no longer a registered working mine, and I don't have their contact information to ask but it would be nice if someone did. Pretty easy to settle the matter if we've got all the information. As far as I'm aware nobody has shared the complete mineral composition of blue cloud.

 

[Spoof]

The company guy actually called me this morning. Very nice, and was interested in developing something specifically for chinchillas (not too surprising). He said they had 23 different deposits and would look at the color of them. I specified white to blue-grey if he could, absorbent but he should go check out the dust in the pet store to see what he's up against. He wanted to send me screen sizes and see what I thought of a thicker material to cut down on the dust, but I'm more of a powder person. I think it cleans better though I know with powder there will be airborne particles.

I have not tired the sand PDZ to see if it works, though it might be worth it.

We talked about breathing issues. He also reinstated that silica is not free silica. Their products are tested to be safe for inhalation, and he's sending me the msds sheet though I believe it's been posted.

Short of the long of it - this company is willing to work with us to create a product. As the blue cloud mine is closing I think this is a great opportunity to get affordable dust seeing they all ready have a huge retail distribution area.

On a side note, does anyone have the msds on Blue sparkle dust?

 

[aznmexaggie]

I just contacted Calvert Corporation who makes Blue Sparkle and they said they will fax me the MSDS for the dust. I will post it once I receive it.

 

[aznmexaggie]

The computer hooked up to the fax machine and scanner is not working so I will have to type out the information manually onto my laptop. I will only type out the sections which have information in them. I will also type out Section I even though that information is fully available online with a google search.

This is the MSDS from Calvert Corporation in Calvert, KS

Section 1
Manufacturer's Name: Calvert Corporation
Address: Rt. 1 Box 153-B Calvert, KS 67622
Telephone Number for Information: (913) 877-5221
Date Prepared: 7/18/91

Section II - Hazardous Ingredients/Identity Information
Hazardous Components (Specific Chemical Identity; Common Name(s)): NONE

Section III - Physical/Chemical Characteristics
Boiling Point: NONE
Vapor Pressure (mm Hg.): NONE
Vapor Density (AIR = 1): NONE
Specific Gravity: 2.4
Melting Point: 0
Evaporation Rate (Butyl-Acetate = 1): 0
Solubility in Water: NO
Appearance and Odor: Gray vitreous shards, odorless

Section IV - Fire and Explosion Hazard Data
Flash Point (Method Used): NO
Extinguishing Media: N/A
Special Fire Fighting Procedures: N/A
Unusual Fire and Explosion Hazards: NONE

Section V - Reactivity Data
Stability: Stable

​

Conditions to Avoid: NONE
Incompatibility (Materials to Avoid): NONE
Hazardous Decomposition or Byproducts: NONE
Hazardous Polymerization: Will not occur

​

Conditions to Avoid: NONE

Section VI - Health Hazard Data
Health Hazards (Acute and Chronic): NONE - Volcanic ash particle structure is amorphous and contains no free silica
Signs and Symptoms of Exposure: NONE
Emergency and First Aid Procedures: N/A

Section VII - Precautions for Safe Handling and Use
Steps to be Taken in Case Materials is Released or Spilled: NONE (NOT HAZARDOUS)
Waste Disposal Method: Ordinary
Precautions to be Taken in Handling and Storing: Ordinary
Other Precautions: NONE

Section VIII - Control Measures
Respiratory Protection (Specify Type): Mineral is Inert, but masks may be worn under dusty conditions
Ventilations: Local Exhaust: Under certain conditions
Protective Gloves: NO
Eye Protection: NO
Other Protective Clothing or Equipment: NO

 

[Spoof]

Thanks Sumiko!

Here's the data sheet Wally sent and the email.

Thank you for the information that you provided in our telephone
discussion about the nature of the powder used by chinchillas. At issue I
see a) the health aspect of the chinchillas and humans breathing the dust;
and b) the color of the powder as it affects the fur.

Sweet PDZ is very low in free silica but no natural zeolite is without some
degree of free silica, so the only recommendation that we can make is to
avoid breathing the dust. Attached are MSDS and a Data Sheet describing the
various facts about Sweet PDZ. I will make a search of products that are on
the market ad see if what we have to offer from our various zeolite deposits
can provide you with a superior powder for your chinchillas.

I will be back to you with some ideas for discussion.

Thanks for bringing the problem to my attention.

Best regards.

So don't stand there and inhale it, and they're clearly very willing to work with us. I will pick up the sand to see if it works like the powder. So far the PDZ has been airborne for 3-5 minutes while they are dusting but settles almost immediately.

 

[whiskers387]

Ok i just picked up a bag of Sweet PDZ today, so i just take Whiskers bath house, use PDZ instead of blue cloud, and let her do her thing?

 

[weew]

The company guy actually called me this morning. Very nice, and was interested in developing something specifically for chinchillas (not too surprising). He said they had 23 different deposits and would look at the color of them. I specified white to blue-grey if he could, absorbent but he should go check out the dust in the pet store to see what he's up against. He wanted to send me screen sizes and see what I thought of a thicker material to cut down on the dust, but I'm more of a powder person. I think it cleans better though I know with powder there will be airborne particles.

I have not tired the sand PDZ to see if it works, though it might be worth it.

We talked about breathing issues. He also reinstated that silica is not free silica. Their products are tested to be safe for inhalation, and he's sending me the msds sheet though I believe it's been posted.

Short of the long of it - this company is willing to work with us to create a product. As the blue cloud mine is closing I think this is a great opportunity to get affordable dust seeing they all ready have a huge retail distribution area.

On a side note, does anyone have the msds on Blue sparkle dust?

Is that mean Silica is a bad mineral for chinchilla to use as dust bath? I know silica is a type of mineral. Can explain a bit more about weather is OK to contain silica or no AT all.

 

[Spoof]

Silica is fine. Free silica can become airborne and possibly scar the lungs if inhaled enough. It does contain free silica. I'm going to try the sand version and see if it works, if it does it would be better as it does not become airborne.

 

[Essentia]

Definitely let me know how the sand goes.

 

[designer chins]

We use PDZ with the horses--how was I not paying attention that people are using it with chins? Glad I found this thread, and looking forward to how the PDZ sand works. Thanks for all the info and updates!