For several decades there has been an ever-increasing awareness about the long and short-term health effects of the products we use routinely in our daily lives.
In response to this awareness, most companies today test their products to determine what, if any, health and safety effects may be associated with them. The ore, which produces White Lightning has been mined, processed and used in a variety of applications for over fifty years without any hint of adverse health effects. Products produced from this ore are used, with government approval, as a filter aid for water purification and for the clarification of foods, wines and other beverages; as an anti-caking agent; and, for use in processing, transporting, and in storage areas for direct contact with meat or poultry food products prepared under federal inspection. These products are also used as a horticultural aggregate in potting soil, as a lightweight material for concrete, as a filter in construction products. This industry has been at the forefront in examining any potential health effects that may be associated with these products. To be sure, all of the products produced from this ore have been tested often, and information has been gathered by a number of scientific and governmental groups. Significantly, no test result or information indicates that any of these products poses any health risk. Indeed, the uniform result of all the studies and information gathering, points forcefully to the conclusion that all of these products are non hazardous. For instance, There have been several health surveillance studies conducted, the first two published by Dr. Clark Cooper (1975 and 1976), the third published by Cooper and Sergeant in 1986, and a fourth and fifth (unpublished) by Tulane University in 1990 and 1994 by Dr. Hans Weill. It is particularly noteworthy that all of the above studies uniformly support the conclusion that no product or bi product produced from this ore poses no significant health risks to workers and consumers. For example, in his most recent study (1994), Dr. Weill, Director of the Section of Environmental Medicine at Tulane University, concluded that the workers studied were “free of any evidence of a silicosis risk, or indeed, any measurable adverse respiratory effects of the dust exposure.” Another study conducted by him in 1990 found similar results.” 1,2 Earlier in 1986, Doctors W. Clark Cooper and E. Nicholas Sargent studied the chest roentgenograms of 152 workers with more than 5 years experience in this industry, 42 of whom had been working in the industry 15 years, and 19 for more than 20 years. The study showed no indication that any worker was subject to an increased risk of pneumoconiosis from exposure to this product. 3 Other studies gathered by a number of scientific and governmental groups also conclude that this ore poses no significant or known health risk. Because the finished product is used often as a filter aid for water purification and for the clarification of foods, wines, and other beverages, it has been tested a number of times to determine its effects when ingested. In 1982, the WIL Research Laboratories conducted studies to examine the acute oral toxicity, if any, of agglomerated filter aid in albino rats. The study showed no signs of systemic toxicity, and concluded that the LD.50 was greater than the highest doses level administered to the rats (10 gm/km body weight).
This information is courtesy of The Schundler Company , New Jersey 08840
In response to this awareness, most companies today test their products to determine what, if any, health and safety effects may be associated with them. The ore, which produces White Lightning has been mined, processed and used in a variety of applications for over fifty years without any hint of adverse health effects. Products produced from this ore are used, with government approval, as a filter aid for water purification and for the clarification of foods, wines and other beverages; as an anti-caking agent; and, for use in processing, transporting, and in storage areas for direct contact with meat or poultry food products prepared under federal inspection. These products are also used as a horticultural aggregate in potting soil, as a lightweight material for concrete, as a filter in construction products. This industry has been at the forefront in examining any potential health effects that may be associated with these products. To be sure, all of the products produced from this ore have been tested often, and information has been gathered by a number of scientific and governmental groups. Significantly, no test result or information indicates that any of these products poses any health risk. Indeed, the uniform result of all the studies and information gathering, points forcefully to the conclusion that all of these products are non hazardous. For instance, There have been several health surveillance studies conducted, the first two published by Dr. Clark Cooper (1975 and 1976), the third published by Cooper and Sergeant in 1986, and a fourth and fifth (unpublished) by Tulane University in 1990 and 1994 by Dr. Hans Weill. It is particularly noteworthy that all of the above studies uniformly support the conclusion that no product or bi product produced from this ore poses no significant health risks to workers and consumers. For example, in his most recent study (1994), Dr. Weill, Director of the Section of Environmental Medicine at Tulane University, concluded that the workers studied were “free of any evidence of a silicosis risk, or indeed, any measurable adverse respiratory effects of the dust exposure.” Another study conducted by him in 1990 found similar results.” 1,2 Earlier in 1986, Doctors W. Clark Cooper and E. Nicholas Sargent studied the chest roentgenograms of 152 workers with more than 5 years experience in this industry, 42 of whom had been working in the industry 15 years, and 19 for more than 20 years. The study showed no indication that any worker was subject to an increased risk of pneumoconiosis from exposure to this product. 3 Other studies gathered by a number of scientific and governmental groups also conclude that this ore poses no significant or known health risk. Because the finished product is used often as a filter aid for water purification and for the clarification of foods, wines, and other beverages, it has been tested a number of times to determine its effects when ingested. In 1982, the WIL Research Laboratories conducted studies to examine the acute oral toxicity, if any, of agglomerated filter aid in albino rats. The study showed no signs of systemic toxicity, and concluded that the LD.50 was greater than the highest doses level administered to the rats (10 gm/km body weight).
- 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
- Summary Report on Perlite Worker Survey, Hans Weill, M.D., Tulane University, April 26, 1990
- Perlite Worker Study. October 1994, Hans Weill, M.D., Tulane University
- 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
- Rosner-Hixon Laboratories, Acute Oral Toxicity test, Laboratory Report no 72429, June 16, 1977
- 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.
- 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.
- Official Publication 1992, Association of the American Feed Control Officials Incorporates, 1992.
- 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
