What is the current official EPA ruling regarding DE as a pesticide? Answer: There is no published EPA ruling on DE or Diatomaceous Earth or Silicon Dioxide. However during 2009 the EPA has cracked down on several companies making pesticidal claims for DE. This is evident in the labeling, websites and advertising by the major players selling DE. The unofficial official private mandate is DE is an inert or inactive ingredient “carrier” of a chemical pesticidal formulation and in and of itself is not a pesticide. Huh?
DE Facts: DE is not earth or dirt. It’s the fossilized remains of microscopic shells created by one celled plants called Diatoms. Diatoms came in many forms and species. Fresh water diatoms are considered to have formed the hardest and strongest shells. Fresh water diatoms once fossilized have a very strong structure. Less than 1% of DE deposits are considered “food grade” by FDA standards. For a many thousands of years DE has been used as a natural pesticide in grain silos (ancient Eygpt), crop dusting and in its purist form, Food Grade or Amorphous DE as a non-caking food and feed additive. Crystaline silica dioxide (DE) is used in water filtration.
Diatomaceous earth is mined, milled, and processed into a many types and for a large variety of uses. Filtering and filler are two main uses but diatomaceous earth also ends up in paints, cosmetics, drugs, chemical insecticides, etc. Because the milling produces different sized and shaped particles, the filtering type is not allowed for agricultural purposes.
So what is the big deal? Well like everything it’s all about government regulation and fee collection. In order to market DE as an official pesticide you need an EPA number. That means per the EPA you have to add a pesticide or bait to the DE to make it do something to a bug or insect. To get an EPA number you have to pay the EPA a fee for it.
Here is something to ponder on, DE comes in many types and grades, crystaline silica dioxide or pool grade DE is very hazardous to breathe. There is no EPA requirement to use safe, food grade DE in an insect killing powder. The FDA requires less than 3% crystaline silica dioxide content to be considered safe for human and animal consumption. Think about it.
If you read the labels and materials of 2 major brands of EPA registered DE insect killing powder, this is how the products work: ”kills insects by abrasively removing and breaking down the oily protective membrane which covers the insects body, legs and other moving parts. Death results from dehydration because it absorbs up to 50% of the insects fluids.” or “kills insects within 48 hours after they ingest it” Well that sounds good but how do you get a parasite like fleas or bed bugs that feed by sucking body fluids or blood of animals or people to ingest the powdery stuff?
Other companies selling food grade DE tow the unofficial ruling such as “The EPA has approved DE as an additive in feed and grains for use as an anti-caking agent and has exempted it from tolerance requirements as an inert, inactive ingredient in chemical pesticides. Any uses other than those presented here are strictly anecdotal reports of what our customers have used it for. We sell this product for the uses stated on the label only. Any other benefits it may provide are incidental.”
Is DE a natural insecticide or not? Its kind of like pushing a string these days, everything gets bunched up and confused. 6,000 years ago Ancient Egyptians were using food grade DE as a natural pesticide in their crops to keep bugs from eating it. If it didn’t work why did they keep using it for so long? So, while many companies refuse to play the game of paying fees to be able to inform the public what is already true, the formula and effectiveness of Diatomaceous Earth remains the same.
It won’t take much research to find the answer you are looking for. Learn more about Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth Fossil Shell Flour.
View the original article here
What is the current official EPA ruling regarding DE as a pesticide? Answer: There is no published EPA ruling on DE or Diatomaceous Earth or Silicon Dioxide. However during 2009 the EPA has cracked down on several companies making pesticidal claims for DE. This is evident in the labeling, websites and advertising by the major players selling DE. The unofficial official private mandate is DE is an inert or inactive ingredient “carrier” of a chemical pesticidal formulation and in and of itself is not a pesticide. Huh?
DE Facts: DE is not earth or dirt. It’s the fossilized remains of microscopic shells created by one celled plants called Diatoms. Diatoms came in many forms and species. Fresh water diatoms are considered to have formed the hardest and strongest shells. Fresh water diatoms once fossilized have a very strong structure. Less than 1% of DE deposits are considered “food grade” by FDA standards. For a many thousands of years DE has been used as a natural pesticide in grain silos (ancient Eygpt), crop dusting and in its purist form, Food Grade or Amorphous DE as a non-caking food and feed additive. Crystaline silica dioxide (DE) is used in water filtration.
Diatomaceous earth is mined, milled, and processed into a many types and for a large variety of uses. Filtering and filler are two main uses but diatomaceous earth also ends up in paints, cosmetics, drugs, chemical insecticides, etc. Because the milling produces different sized and shaped particles, the filtering type is not allowed for agricultural purposes.
So what is the big deal? Well like everything it’s all about government regulation and fee collection. In order to market DE as an official pesticide you need an EPA number. That means per the EPA you have to add a pesticide or bait to the DE to make it do something to a bug or insect. To get an EPA number you have to pay the EPA a fee for it.
Here is something to ponder on, DE comes in many types and grades, crystaline silica dioxide or pool grade DE is very hazardous to breathe. There is no EPA requirement to use safe, food grade DE in an insect killing powder. The FDA requires less than 3% crystaline silica dioxide content to be considered safe for human and animal consumption. Think about it.
If you read the labels and materials of 2 major brands of EPA registered DE insect killing powder, this is how the products work: ”kills insects by abrasively removing and breaking down the oily protective membrane which covers the insects body, legs and other moving parts. Death results from dehydration because it absorbs up to 50% of the insects fluids.” or “kills insects within 48 hours after they ingest it” Well that sounds good but how do you get a parasite like fleas or bed bugs that feed by sucking body fluids or blood of animals or people to ingest the powdery stuff?
Other companies selling food grade DE tow the unofficial ruling such as “The EPA has approved DE as an additive in feed and grains for use as an anti-caking agent and has exempted it from tolerance requirements as an inert, inactive ingredient in chemical pesticides. Any uses other than those presented here are strictly anecdotal reports of what our customers have used it for. We sell this product for the uses stated on the label only. Any other benefits it may provide are incidental.”
Is DE a natural insecticide or not? Its kind of like pushing a string these days, everything gets bunched up and confused. 6,000 years ago Ancient Egyptians were using food grade DE as a natural pesticide in their crops to keep bugs from eating it. If it didn’t work why did they keep using it for so long? So, while many companies refuse to play the game of paying fees to be able to inform the public what is already true, the formula and effectiveness of Diatomaceous Earth remains the same.
It won’t take much research to find the answer you are looking for. Learn more about Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth Fossil Shell Flour.
View the original article here
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