[Jewelry making - Article 00168] - Re: [Orchid] Recycling investment

[John Dach]

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>     I'm sorry. I've been researching these things for a while now, and
>     I forget that others are like me, and like to know the basic info.
>     If you want to know more, look up crystalline silica (that's the
>     silica used...I believe it's safer than some forms of silica, but
>     safer doesn't mean safe, harmless, or good garden additive.) 

    It is felt and understood that silica can be damaging if inhaled.
    Using good old sand in a sand blaster creates c. silica so one must
    be careful. But the wind blows c. silica when it blows. The c. silica
    converts to crystobolite at about 1600 F and this stuff is really
    more dangerous to breath. 

>     Below is one of the MSDS files I have. The problematic portion is
>     the silica. It isn't only a problem when breathed in, but also a
>     problem when in contact. In minimal amounts of contact, the hazards
>     are not so apparent (or numerous). [snip] Water tables and water
>     supplies are easily affected and rarely tested for such things due
>     to cost and time it takes for testing. 

    If this is true, then what about the use of the high mountain
    glacial waters that are milky due to the finely ground up mineral
    (silica is a lot of it) created by the moving glaciers? Some of the
    most nutritional foods grown on earth are watered from these water
    sources and the locals drink the water. It is even sold in bottled
    form. 

>     My statements were not intended to imply the products, used as
>     advised (with extreme care for respiratory health and safety,
>     minimal contact) were imminently dangerous. There are cautions and
>     precautions, as with any hazardous chemical. [snip] Michelle
>     specifically was asking about putting investment in her garden, and
>     if this was 'the one last measure her company needed to be green'.
>     My answer to her is an emphatic NO! Anyone who is concerned about
>     going green, rather than using the words (because it sounds good),
>     ought to know this. 

    I would not recommend this either, but a highly biologically active
    soil will break down or make unavailable, an amazing amount of
    "stuff". Ivory liquid in water is a great insecticide, garlic juice
    is a great fungicide, tomato plant leaf juice/water mix is a great
    way to deal with rose rust. Soil and plant life use a constant
    barrage of chemistries to compete and live in the soils.. No I would
    not recommend dumping hard chemistries on my land or somebody else's
    land (where does the stuff from the transfer stations go,,,,,
    somebody else's land away from you!!), but let us have some level of
    consideration when looking at MSDS info. MILK has an MSDS sheet. If
    used improperly you can drowned in milk and die. This will not stop
    me from drinking milk but it can kill you. 

>     Some people don't care what the environmental effects are. Okay.
>     But if you start telling folks it's 'green' and more people do it,
>     the area becomes much less safe to breathe in (it doesn't mix with
>     the soil and remains respirable crystal silica). 

    It does mix and like ALL ground rock (quartz for example) it IS
    ground silica. 

>     So, again, I repeat...is it good for your garden, and 'green'? No,
>     it isn't, and no it isn't. In fact, as you read the MSDS below (the
>     company provides the silica that a good number of investments
>     contain), you will see that it's not considered overly dangerous,
>     just bad for the lungs (don't breathe it if you can help it) and is
>     implicated in autoimmune diseases. Those are the words of the
>     company. They just aren't at the top in bold letters to make it
>     easy to see. 

    Breathing soap dust from your laundry or dishwasher detergent is
    very dangerous too. Think of all of the chemistry you put on your
    body every day. Soap, shampoo conditioner, makeup, creams skin
    conditioners, vitamins, etc. Look up the MSDS sheets on some of the
    stuff in these products and be ready to get shocked. Lots of it is
    toxic. Common sense is a must here both looking at the MSDS info and
    using/taking the product. 

    As to jewelers being green,,,,,,,, what environmental damage and
    HIGHLY toxic materials are used to mine and produce the precious
    and/ or non precious metals you use? The solders? The damage done to
    the environment to get the stones you use? Be as green as you can but
    realize that just being alive, each one of us is a polluter just
    being alive. 

John Dach
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