Health Issues, Studies and Effects, continued
· Acute oral toxicity tests in rats ingesting this product were performed by the Rosner-Hixon Laboratories in 1977. The results of the test showed than the acute oral LD50 of the ore for the rats is greater than the largest dose administered in the test (10 gm/kg body weight). 4
· In 1979, the Life Sciences Research Office of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology prepared a report for the Food and Drug Administration of the United States Department of Health, Education and Welfare. The report entitled Evaluation of the Health Aspects of Certain Silicates as Food Ingredients, evaluated this product, among other substances, and concluded: “this product…is used as filter aids in food processing indicate(s) no hazard to public health,” and further concludes: there is no evidence in the available information on this product that demonstrates or suggests reasonable grounds to suspect a hazard to the public when used as filter aids in food processing at levels that are now current or that might reasonably be expected in the future.”5
· This processed ore is listed with approval as a filter aid in food processing by the National Academy of Sciences in the Third Supplement to the Food Chemicals Codex (F.C.C. III) (March 1992) to the Third Edition (1981). 6
· This product has likewise been evaluated and approved as a filter aid in the processing of food and feed ingredients, and as an anti-caking agent, by the Association of American Feed Control Officials. 7
· The United States Department of Agriculture has determined that these filter aids are “chemically acceptable for use in processing, transporting, or storage areas for direct contact with meat poultry food products prepared under federal inspection.” 8
Finally, the processed ore has been characterized by several sources (ACGIH, OSHA, IARC, etc.) as a nuisance or inert dust. Exposure to such dusts can sometimes result in temporary physical irritation, discomfort, impair visibiltiy, and enhancement of accidental potential, but no to health impairment. (Inhalation over long periods of high concentrations of any nuisance dust is undesirable as it may interfere with the lung clearance mechanism. In addition, coughing and temporary irritation and inflammation of the eyes, throat and nasal passages can occur as a result of overexposure. Repeated handling or contact may also result in some drying effects of the skin or slight skin abrasions as might occur with any mineral dust).
Such results should be reassuring to the general public, and further point to the on-going commitment made by industry manufacturers to take a responsible position regarding the products that they produce and sell.
1. Summary Report on Perlite Worker Survey, Hans Weill, M.D., Tulane University, April 26, 1990
2. Perlite Worker Study. October 1994, Hans Weill, M.D., Tulane University
3. Study of Chest Radiographs and pulmonary ventilator)’ Function in Perlite Workers, W. Clark Cooper, M.D., Journal of Occupational Medicine Volume 28, No 2/March 1985
4. Rosner-Hixon Laboratories, Acute Oral Toxicity test, Laboratory Report no 72429, June 16, 1977
5. Evaluation of the Health Aspects of Certain Silicates as Food Ingredients, Life sciences Research office, Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. 1979 health effects.
6. Third edition Food Chemicals Codex (F.C.C. III) (1981) and third supplement to the Food Chemicals Codex (F.C.C. III) (March 1992), National Academy of Sciences, Washington D.C. 20418.
7. Official Publication 1992, Association of the American Feed Control Officials Incorporates, 1992.
8. Letter JW Sloan (USDA) to E.R. Brannigan (grefco, Inc) April 5, 1976 Health Effects.
This information is courtesy of The Schundler Company , New Jersey 08840
· In 1979, the Life Sciences Research Office of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology prepared a report for the Food and Drug Administration of the United States Department of Health, Education and Welfare. The report entitled Evaluation of the Health Aspects of Certain Silicates as Food Ingredients, evaluated this product, among other substances, and concluded: “this product…is used as filter aids in food processing indicate(s) no hazard to public health,” and further concludes: there is no evidence in the available information on this product that demonstrates or suggests reasonable grounds to suspect a hazard to the public when used as filter aids in food processing at levels that are now current or that might reasonably be expected in the future.”5
· This processed ore is listed with approval as a filter aid in food processing by the National Academy of Sciences in the Third Supplement to the Food Chemicals Codex (F.C.C. III) (March 1992) to the Third Edition (1981). 6
· This product has likewise been evaluated and approved as a filter aid in the processing of food and feed ingredients, and as an anti-caking agent, by the Association of American Feed Control Officials. 7
· The United States Department of Agriculture has determined that these filter aids are “chemically acceptable for use in processing, transporting, or storage areas for direct contact with meat poultry food products prepared under federal inspection.” 8
Finally, the processed ore has been characterized by several sources (ACGIH, OSHA, IARC, etc.) as a nuisance or inert dust. Exposure to such dusts can sometimes result in temporary physical irritation, discomfort, impair visibiltiy, and enhancement of accidental potential, but no to health impairment. (Inhalation over long periods of high concentrations of any nuisance dust is undesirable as it may interfere with the lung clearance mechanism. In addition, coughing and temporary irritation and inflammation of the eyes, throat and nasal passages can occur as a result of overexposure. Repeated handling or contact may also result in some drying effects of the skin or slight skin abrasions as might occur with any mineral dust).
Such results should be reassuring to the general public, and further point to the on-going commitment made by industry manufacturers to take a responsible position regarding the products that they produce and sell.
1. Summary Report on Perlite Worker Survey, Hans Weill, M.D., Tulane University, April 26, 1990
2. Perlite Worker Study. October 1994, Hans Weill, M.D., Tulane University
3. Study of Chest Radiographs and pulmonary ventilator)’ Function in Perlite Workers, W. Clark Cooper, M.D., Journal of Occupational Medicine Volume 28, No 2/March 1985
4. Rosner-Hixon Laboratories, Acute Oral Toxicity test, Laboratory Report no 72429, June 16, 1977
5. Evaluation of the Health Aspects of Certain Silicates as Food Ingredients, Life sciences Research office, Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. 1979 health effects.
6. Third edition Food Chemicals Codex (F.C.C. III) (1981) and third supplement to the Food Chemicals Codex (F.C.C. III) (March 1992), National Academy of Sciences, Washington D.C. 20418.
7. Official Publication 1992, Association of the American Feed Control Officials Incorporates, 1992.
8. Letter JW Sloan (USDA) to E.R. Brannigan (grefco, Inc) April 5, 1976 Health Effects.
This information is courtesy of The Schundler Company , New Jersey 08840
