What is Silica Powder and Why Do We Use Them?

ToxFAQsTM for Silica

Spanish: Sílice

CHIDA Product Page

CAS#: -86-9

PDF Versionpdf icon[252 KB]

What is silica?

Silica is found naturally in the environment. It is a compound made from silicon and oxygen and can come in different forms. All silica forms are made from the same chemicals but can have different structures. Silica is divided into two main groups, crystalline silica and amorphous silica (non-crystalline silica). The most common type of crystalline silica is quartz. Other types also exist, but they are less common.

Silica compounds are found throughout the environment in rocks, sand, clay, soil, air, and water. Silica is used in many commercial products, such as bricks, glass and ceramics, plaster, granite, concrete, cleansers, skin care products, and talcum powder. Some forms of amorphous silica are used as food additives, food wrappings, toothpaste and cosmetics.

How could I be exposed to silica?

The general population is exposed to silica through air, certain types of indoor dust (such as from concrete), food, water, soil, and some consumer products. The exposure of greatest concern is through air. However, most silica particles encountered by the general population in air are too big (non-respirable) to breathe into the lungs and cause problems.

Workers in certain industries are exposed to much higher levels of silica than the general population. For example, activities like blasting, cutting, drilling or grinding materials that contain silica can cause workers to breathe air containing small particles (respirable) of silica dust. This is a serious health concern for workers in occupations involving materials containing crystalline silica, such as construction, mining, sandblasting, and porcelain manufacturing. Exposure of workers to crystalline silica is recognized as an important occupational (job) hazard.

How can crystalline silica affect my health?

No known health effects are found from exposure to crystalline silica at the levels normally found in the environment.

Many studies in workers have looked into possible relationships between crystalline silica exposure and harmful health effects. These studies show that workers breathing small crystalline silica particles for a long time (typically years) can develop silicosis, a serious lung disease. Crystalline silica is the only compound that causes silicosis. Studies in workers have also documented that silica can cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer, kidney failure, autoimmune diseases, and increased susceptibility to tuberculosis.

Health problems from crystalline or amorphous silica are extremely rare in the general public; health problems occur to workers breathing in silica dust.

How can amorphous silica affect my health?

There are no known health effects from exposure to amorphous silica at the levels found in the environment or in commercial products (food additives and wrapping, toothpaste and cosmetics).

A few reports suggest that amorphous silica can cause respiratory dieases (but no silicosis) in workers. Studies in lab animals suggest that although breathing amorphous can cause lung inflammation and injury, it is less hazardous than crystalline silica.

How can silica affect children?

It is unlikely that children in developed countries would have sufficient exposure to crystalline silica to be at risk for silica-related disease. If children were exposed to large amounts of small crystalline silica particles, as might occur during child labor in developing countries, they would likely be at risk for similar health effects as adults. If you think your child has had this type of exposure, talk to your child’s doctor or nurse.

Can crystalline silica cause cancer?

Federal and international agencies have concluded that exposure to crystalline silica particles that are small enough to reach the lungs can cause lung cancer. The Department of Health and Human Services and the International Agency for Research on Cancer classify crystalline silica (respirable size) as a known human carcinogen (causes cancer).

These conclusions are based on studies in workers showing that prolonged (long-term) inhalation of crystalline silica particles that are small enough to reach the lungs increase the risk for getting lung cancer. However, levels of these small particles are much higher than what is usually found in the general environment.

Can amorphous silica cause cancer?

Studies of amorphous silica in workers and lab animals have not found cancer. Federal and international agencies have not made any conclusions on whether amorphous silica can cause cancer.

Can I get a medical test to check for silica exposure?

There are no medical tests to find out if you have been exposed to silica.

How can I protect myself and my family from silica?

Usual exposures of the general public to large particles of crystalline or amorphous silica are not known to cause any health effects in people without lung diseases like asthma. Therefore, people don’t need to take any special steps to avoid silica in their daily lives or avoid products containing silica. However, you should wear protective equipment (e.g. particle mask) if you engage in a hobby or activity that creates small dust particles by grinding or cutting materials that contain silica. Workers exposed to silica should avoid bringing dust home on their clothes.

Workers who may be exposed for longer periods of time to respirable crystalline silica should talk to their supervisor or employer. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) also has information: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/silica/.

For more information, please visit mica powder.

For more information:

Call CDC-INFO at 1-800-232-, or submit your question online at
https://wwwn.cdc.gov/dcs/ContactUs/Form

Go to ATSDR's Toxicological Profile for Silica:
"https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/TSP/ToxProfiles/ToxProfiles.aspx?id=&tid=290"

Go to ATSDR's Toxic Substances Portal: https://wwwn.cdc.gov/TSP/index.aspx

Silica Powder Uses

What is Silica?

Silica is the name given to the group of minerals that consist of silicon and oxygen (for example, quartz). Its chemical formula is silicon dioxide (a silicon atom and two oxygen atoms), and it is expressed by the chemical symbol SiO2. Quartz is the second most common mineral in the Earth’s crust, and it is a naturally colorless mineral that is purified and processed in either a granular or embossed form. It is possible to find quartz in colorful forms sometimes when some impurities such as iron enter it.

Silica Extract Sources

This substance is found in most parts of the world due to the fact that silica represents approximately 28% of the Earth’s outer crust, of which about 12% is silica sand and the rest is in the form of clay (silicates).

The most commonly used forms of silica

Silica powder is a granular, vitreous, porous form of silicon dioxide manufactured from sodium silicate. Silicon dioxide is obtained mostly by mining, including sand mining and quartz purification. Quartz is suitable for many purposes, while chemical processing is required to make it a purer or more fine-grained flour suitable and reactive in various manufacturing processes.

Silica gel, which is a solid, is stiffer than common household gels such as gelatin or agar. There are several types, colors and sizes of silica gel. The three most common colors of silica gel are white and blue which turns orange when the gel becomes saturated with moisture and needs regeneration. Gel packs can be dried when filled with moisture and reused.

Silica Powder Uses

Industrial silica is used in a wide range of fields, the most important of which are:

Industrial scale: The use of silica in the industrial scale dates back to about five thousand years BC. This material has continued to support industrial development throughout human history until it became a basic material in many industrial applications, the most important of which are:

• Glass, ceramics and abrasives.
• Foundries, construction and chemical industries.
• Paints, plastics and rubber.
• Water filtration.
• Anti-caking food additive.
• A way to control the viscosity of drinks.
• Anti-foaming agent and dough modifier.
• Excipient in medicines and vitamins (a binding agent that allows crushed medicines to be made into pills).
• Animal feed, agrochemical industry.
• Adhesives, printing inks, cosmetics.

Agricultural Scope: Most of the silica products on the market can be applied as root feed or as foliar spray. Plants can absorb much more through foliar feeding than simply sucking through the root zone. Silica is also known to prevent powdery mildew when used as a foliar spray. Silica improves the plant’s ability to survive and even thrive in high salinity areas. It also improves plant photosynthesis and aids plant uptake of nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, zinc and molybdenum.

Technological scope: Today, silica contributes to the information-technology revolution by using it in plastics for computer mice, and silica is the main raw material for silicon chips used in the field of electronics, where solar collectors, transistors, optical fibers and other industrial devices and materials are made.

Medical scope: Silica can be used to treat some chronic diseases and relieve their symptoms, because silica originates from rocks and contains many elements and materials that strengthen body parts, and silica can be used to treat diseases of the immune system, colds, ear infections, influenza, and skin problems. , bone fractures, peeling lips, and is used to strengthen nails also, and mastitis that may affect nursing mothers.

BMS | Gharbalah Ind. Co. | provides high-quality Silica Sands and Silica Powder that can be custom packaged according to the customer’s needs.