is chinchilla dust harmful to humansFebruary 2023
It does also have certain advantages, and is completely safe, with no chance of causing silicosis/pulmonary fibrosis. Because of how fine it is, it perfectly mimicks the volcanic ash that wild chinchillas roll around in, and its the best at absorbing moisture and oil in your pets fur. And if you take it again, it will come up with new questions each time! Amorphous silica, being round, stands much less chance of doing so; it can therefore be more easily coughed out. But because of safety concerns, we nonetheless have to recommend it. Plus silicosis takes years to develop, so even in the absence of current symptoms, your lungs may be being damaged. It's like using a net to capture a wild animal. But wild chinchillas dont eat hay; they eat living plants and grasses. Whether thats because of outdated advice or because of Bugs Bunny isnt relevant; what matters is that rabbits do far better on a diet of hay than of vegetables. Where should you put your chinchilla's exercise wheel? If you didnt have a chinchilla and youd never owned a rabbit, youd likely think the same. However, inhalation of pumice doesnt seem to cause as serious issues as silicosis, likely because powdered pumice granules are typically larger than those of blue cloud dust. Silicosis was one of the very first workplace-related health issues, because people working with or around crystalline silica have been experiencing this condition for a hundred years or more now. Apple wood sticks are one of the best chew toys. This isn't a trick question. Less harmful to users health. Each tiny particle can soak up oil and moisture, and some of the starch will stay in your chinchillas fur, stopping it from getting damp or dirty between baths. Thank you for your reply! But they also found that the effects of crystalline silica were irreversible, while rats that inhaled amorphous silica arguably made a full recovery. As chinchillas are mammals, their respiratory system is the same as ours. During this time, it can get into your chinchillas eyes. Alternatively, get somebody to help. Cancer begins when DNA in a cell is mutated, and spreads to form a tumor. Many common chinchilla dust brands are made of pumice powder, and its seen as a viable alternative to blue cloud. Thats a completely separate issue. This same effect has been demonstrated in other studies, although some argue the link specifically between aluminum silicate and silicosis isnt clear. This means the body cant get rid of the dust specks easily. I would say give it a go, and if it works for you the same as or better than corn starch, go for it. You could even consider dusting if you have a feather duster you can use. It was long thought that amorphous silica cant be dangerous because of its shape. What Happens When You Inhale Blue Cloud Dust? If they don't take care of plant roots when they invade the chinchilla's space, their homes would be overrun! . While it isnt clear what effect aluminum silicate has on chinchillas, we know that silicate dusts can cause silicosis in other rodents, and that the chinchillas respiratory system is just like ours; we therefore recommend steering clear of any dust that could harm your pets health. While it remains in the lungs, however, it seems that the two kinds of silica do the same damage. Cleaning and tidying is one way to achieve that. Studies like this one have shown a causative link between aluminum silicate dust and pulmonary fibrosis, which is where the lungs are damaged by tiny scars from inhaled dust. When fine dust billows up into the air, it hangs there for a few seconds. Another example is the idea of the exercise ball. Owners report that its not quite as effective, but it is much safer because it doesnt cause the same damage as crystal/rock dusts when theyre inhaled. catanzaro solid wood platform bed; best silicone baby bottles; garnier skinactive facial mist We pampered our chinnies just like you! Posted on September 29, 2022 by acrylic ice bucket with stand This effect isnt well understood yet, but it seems that chronic irritation and inflammation are an indispensible participant in the process of cells turning cancerous and spreading. Is chinchilla dust harmful to humans? These filters pick out particles from the air to stop you breathing them in. It is one of the few free exploits that doesnt contain keys, ContentsMarket size of $120 billion by 2021A lot of hard workMany people work as a freelancer In the computer software prepackaged software industry, there are several different types of job, ContentsUninstall FaceItOpen System RestoreWhen you install FACEIT If you want to know how to uninstall FaceIt from your computer, you have come to the right place. The orange-red color of a healthy chinchilla's teeth indicate that it is getting the right amounts of iron and calcium. Whats interesting is that amorphous silica seems to cause more damage visible during TUNEL staining than crystalline silica! There are many reports of blue cloud dust triggering allergies. As such, the only guaranteed-safe options that we can recommend are corn starch or sand. Just make sure its not treated with some kind of chemical before using it. Not all kinds of sand are created equal. Corn starch also sticks to fur more than rock dust. Many common chinchilla dust brands are made of pumice powder, and its seen as a viable alternative to blue cloud. P.S. Corn starch is, of course, made from corn; its dry and fine, so wicks moisture and oil from fur in the same way as other dusts. As such, almost every owner recommends blue cloud dust from one of various brands. Some are rougher and sharper, while others have finer grains. Amorphous silica, being round, stands much less chance of doing so; it can therefore be more easily coughed out. Because of the frequency of dust baths required, and because the dust is so easy to breathe in and settles around the room, these are real risks. Whether thats because of outdated advice or because of Bugs Bunny isnt relevant; what matters is that rabbits do far better on a diet of hay than of vegetables. Authors note: When I started writing this guide, Id planned it to be short and simple. I know that seems wrong, because there are hamsters Its easy to break down, and its mined in great quantities, so its available almost anywhere. This material is more commonly used in the U.K. than the U.S. We will be avoiding blue cloud dust going forward. They suck in air, as fans do from behind before blasting the air forward. Amorphous silica has been considered to be a less toxic form, but this view is controversial. If you stick to these safety recommendations, you wont breathe in enough dust to make you sick. Lets begin with what we know. If anything, its the person thats the danger to the chinchilla. On the one hand, that means the starch will still be there between baths, stopping the fur getting greasy. Your email address will not be published. Its a kind of magnesium deposit that can be broken down into a fine dust. Ventilation stops the dust from hanging in the air when its in use. Its easy to break down, and its mined in great quantities, so its available almost anywhere. As mentioned above, the jagged and sharp nature of crystalline silica allows it to catch and stick onto the walls of the lungs. Sand could still get into your chinchillas eye, but its big eyelashes should stop that happening. Some sands you can buy have reviews that say theyre dusty, if you find that yours is, just wash it in a bucket of water and it should be fine. Plus, the dust will settle on every surface in the room. In contrast, only a small population of cells stained TUNEL-positive after exposure to crystalline silica. Wild chinchillas are hunted by birds of prey. Dust can be reused to an extent, but must eventually be thrown away. However, this guide isnt like others that youll find on this topic. Its repeated exposure like this that the worker in the picture above is wearing a mask to protect against. Thank you again for your guidance! Quote: Inhalation of crystalline silica is known to cause an inflammatory reaction and chronic exposure leads to lung fibrosis and can progress into the disease, silicosis. How Many Jobs Are Available in Computer Software Prepackaged Software? But unlike a normal fan, air purifiers have filters attached. We feed our chinchillas a diet unlike that which they eat in the wild. But because of safety concerns, we nonetheless have to recommend it. Considering that you need to dust your chinchilla Please dont dismiss what Ive written as the ramblings of somebody whos obsessed with health and safety, because thats just not me! Silicosis is where the lungs are so damaged that these symptoms persist continually, even in the absence of dust. Its better to be inconvenienced than to risk the health of you and your pet. This material is more commonly used in the U.K. than the U.S. Advantages of Using Corn Starch for Bathing Chinchillas, Drawbacks of Using Corn Starch for Bathing Chinchillas, How to Use Corn Starch for Bathing Chinchillas. Thats because we believe that chinchilla dusts may be dangerous to use. This is therefore one of many ways of assessing how something damages a cell. How could blue cloud dust be dangerous, despite being so popular? But markers for cytotoxicity (cell death), plus markers of DNA change, have been found after exposure to amorphous silica too. There are many such deposits across the United States, however, so blue cloud dust is still available. You may view this either as a positive or a negative. Aluminum silicate, the only ingredient in blue cloud dust, is a combination of aluminum and silica. Learn More Best Bath Dust For Recycling You & Me Chinchilla Bath Dust ChillDusts manufacturer, Hess Pumice, has a plethora of helpful product information available on their website, including human safety analysis information. The key advantage of using sand is that it isnt dangerous. You can also use them to train your chinchilla to do various things, like come when it's called. Ive been doing some more reading on this topic and was reading some people expressed concern that starchesbecause they are so finecould be easily breathed in by the chinchillas and cause respiratory issues. TUNEL staining is where scientists detect DNA breaks that form during apoptosis (cell death). If an infection develops because of this, it can cause serious complications. Silicon is one of the elements of the periodic table. We've published an eBook: Chinchilla Care 101. This means the body cant get rid of the dust specks easily. During this time, it can get into your chinchillas eyes. ChillDust settles faster than other chinchilla-marketed dusts and is only classified as a nuisance dust by OSHA. These cant absorb dust, but they can pick up small amounts on their surface. This dust isnt like regular dust; it doesnt break down. The mechanism by which particles are bound and internalized and the reason particles are toxic is unclear. The confusion stems from how similar the effects of this physical damage are to allergies. These are pulmonary fibrosis and cancer. How could so many people be wrong? But with so many chinchilla owners reporting sensitivity or allergy to silicate blue cloud dust, that points to physical damage being the cause, not allergic reaction. Plus, the dust will settle on every surface in the room. Why take risk to use unknown dust that may cause health hazard to yourself and your chins. Please dont dismiss what Ive written as the ramblings of somebody whos obsessed with health and safety, because thats just not me! But blue cloud dust isnt the exact same thing as pure silica, which may be why it isnt recognized as dangerous despite, perhaps, being so. Just had another thought: I wonder if organic, lead-free bentonite clay would be a safer option, and possibly just as effective as blue cloud? This powder, whatever it is, scratches and scars the lungs. Its mined from the ground; the first known mine was the Blue Cloud Chinchilla Dust Mine in California which operated since at least the 1950s, but was closed by 2016. While no studies have been done on silicosis in chinchillas that specifically relate to aluminum silicate, its possible that it would have the same effect. But its the fineness of this dust thats also its biggest drawback. Its no more expensive than blue cloud. As such, you either have to avoid these dusts or only use them safely. Not all chinchilla dusts have silica in them. Did you come across any validation of these concerns in your research? This means that sand has a slight cleaning effect, but isnt as good as dusts. The pathway leading to apoptosis appears to be similar in both cases. Make sure any bag you buy doesnt contain unusual additives; you want pure sepiolite. As youll know, it goes everywhere, and can settle on your belongings for days afterwards. Easily the best way to avoid breathing in dust is to wear a respirator. These little animals are associated with human salmonellosis, and they carry various mycobacteria. These filters pick out particles from the air to stop you breathing them in. However, the result suggests a mechanistic difference between FcRIIA receptor-mediated and non-opsonized silica particle phagocytosis. There will always be owners who swear by it and have never reported a problem, so will continue using it. WebIs Chinchilla Dust Harmful to Humans? Marketing for blue cloud brands state that it doesnt contain lead, arsenic, glass and various other nasties which is good. If none of your rooms has an extractor fan, pick a room that has large windows. Aragonite sand isnt something Ive seen before, but so long as it doesnt puff up into the air, it should be fine! Practically every owner recommends blue cloud dust, but we believe that blue cloud is dangerous for you and your pet if it isnt used properly. There are many reports of blue cloud dust triggering allergies. What Do You Need for a New Chinchilla? Read the research below, especially the scientific papers linking amorphous silicate dust to serious health issues, and come to your own conclusion. We know, or knew, what was dug up from the original Blue Cloud Chinchilla Mine. But your chinchillas appearance will be changed and it will spread the corn starch around its cage. And if any sand is breathed in, it can be coughed up again, meaning it wont permanently damage the lungs. Thats because whatever safety precaution you take, your chinchilla would still breathe in the dust. This study states that while evidence of cancer stemming from inhalation of amorphous silicate is scarce, there are cancer markers that are present after inhalation. Ideally, you want a room with an extractor fan, like your bathroom. This applies to any kind of fine silicate dust, be that pure silica, aluminum silicate, or silica mixed with something else. WebIt may be an effective alternative to the chinchilla-marketed dusts that may be a harmful or a nuisance dust for humans. It seems to chew them up and spit them out, leaving them in tiny piles on the floor of the cage that look a little like sick. Fruits are typically high in sucrose, which causes bloating in chinchillas. Damaging the DNA in cells is how substances cause cancer. Respirators are masks that have filters in them. After quite a bit of research, my top picks for chinchilla dust options currently are: ChillDust. This doesnt provethat amorphous silica can cause cancer, as studies showing this link definitively havent yet been performed, but its an interesting result nonetheless. Are Chinchillas Dangerous? We compared the uptake and toxicity of amorphous silica to crystalline silica. This powder, whatever it is, scratches and scars the lungs. Theyre used on building sites to prevent silicosis. Silicate dust causes: You may experience one, some, or all of these symptoms. There are lots of different brands of chinchilla dust available; while most generic dusts are the same, some are made from different materials with graded levels of coarseness. Web : buerkle honda service coupons what to wear to cover shoulders at wedding - - - This is, at least, something you dont have to think about with other dusts. Avoid using builders sand because this is rougher and has larger grains. But why? But if you absolutely must use blue cloud dust, an air purifier would be an effective defense. Thats why owners report that when they use sand, their chinchillas fur is still greasy afterwards. As such, weve made some recommendations below that should mitigate some of the risks associated with its use. So far, so normal. If you inhale these dusts frequently, or cant cough them up, they cause inflammation. The key selling point of using corn starch is that it cleans fur in the exact same way as regular chinchilla dust does. Alternatively, you could use reptile sand. The worst thing you could do is use blue cloud somewhere that isnt ventilated. Hi, my name is Jamie. When this is caused by silica of some kind, the condition is referred to as silicosis, and its serious. You can spot this irritation if your chinchillas eyes are red and watering. Im really glad you like our site! Sepiolite is a mineral thats also known as meerschaum. At the same time, they will prevent the dust from entering your lungs. VEGA X EXPLOIT FEATURES To use the Vega X Exploit lua executor, you may need to disable your anti-virus. This page has no products for sale and doesnt recommend the same brands that every other guide does. Chinchillas need to bathe in dust: that much is true. Other advantages include: Corn starch isnt a kooky home remedy; its already used by many owners. Whats interesting is that amorphous silica seems to cause more damage visible during TUNEL staining than crystalline silica! Would I stick my head in a jar and snort some up? Check out our Chinchilla Care 101 eBook, or get what you need from our online store! switching from evenings to mornings. ChillDust settles faster than other chinchilla-marketed dusts and is only classified as a nuisance dust by OSHA. ChillDusts manufacturer, Hess Pumice, has a plethora of helpful product information available on their website, including human safety analysis information. Youre therefore constantly breathing it in if you use it. Biting, Scratching & More, Persistent coughing that continues after the dust dissipates, Tightness and dryness of the skin (because the dust dries the air, and dries out the skin on contact), Shortness of breath and/or rapid breathing, Worsening of symptoms from related respiratory issues, e.g. Ventilation stops the dust from hanging in the air when its in use. The problem with fine dust is that it cant be coughed out, so it stays stuck in the lungs forever. But amorphous silica, being round, is more easily gotten rid of. You can also consider bathing your chinchilla in water infrequently. If you do plan on using corn starch, you can change slightly how you bathe your chinchilla to counteract the drawbacks above. Through industry, weve also created various other kinds of safe dust that dont cause this damage. Corn starch (or corn flour in the U.K.) makes a reasonable alternative to rock-based dusts. Corn starch is, of course, made from corn; its dry and fine, so wicks moisture and oil from fur in the same way as other dusts. Its great at absorbing water, which is why its also used in soil for potted plants. My apologies if I missed it while viewing the site on my phone. Thats only possible because weve done lots of scientific research into what nutrients chinchillas need, how their digestive systems work, and so on. Then, when youre done dusting, open the windows to allow a through draft in. Its a fine, dry powder. Quote: The increased TUNEL staining in epithelial cells of the amorphous silica-exposed rats supports this suggestion. Pumice is made of amorphous silica just like blue cloud, but it may contain other things besides if it isnt perfectly pure. WebIs Chinchilla dust harmful to humans? 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