Pumice dust is dust made from powdered pumice stone. But they also found that the effects of crystalline silica were irreversible, while rats that inhaled amorphous silica arguably made a full recovery. We compared the uptake and toxicity of amorphous silica to crystalline silica. Webis chinchilla dust harmful to humans. But your chinchillas appearance will be changed and it will spread the corn starch around its cage. How could blue cloud dust be dangerous, despite being so popular? We do have a newsletter, and there should be a form you can find at the top of this page. The lungs then have reduced capacity and can even get infected. Just make sure its not treated with some kind of chemical before using it. Rhyolite is a volcanic rock a little like pumice thats very high in silica (typically more than 69%). Its that same reasoning that applies to Blue Cloud dust. Cleaning and tidying is one way to achieve that. I also just came across a forum discussion about using aragonite sand as a substitute. But there is possibly a link there. Studies on whether it causes lung damage have so far stated that it doesnt, although that doesnt prove definitively that it cant. As such, you either have to avoid these dusts or only use them safely. If you inhale these dusts frequently, or cant cough them up, they cause inflammation. If you'd like to chat about chinchillas, contact me through our contact form! Thats especially true if you have asthma, lung damage from smoking, or are otherwise unhealthy. 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. This is a kind of sand sold by pet stores for reptiles to bathe in. The guide below explores what alternatives there are, why blue cloud is so popular even though it may be dangerous, and what you should do if you intend to keep using it. Some of the answer explanations contain links for further reading, which you can click and open in a New Tab. They cost hundreds of dollars. Chinchillas bathe in dust. Our results indicate that amorphous and crystalline silica are both phagocytosed and both toxic to mouse alveolar macrophage (MH-S) cells. Cells that were predominantly affected were macrophages and epithelial cells lining the terminal bronchioles. If I can find one, thats my first choice right now, I think. Again, we have to reiterate that no kind of sand is as effective at cleaning a chinchillas fur as dust. 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. You could try offering longer or more frequent baths to combat this issue. These clean a chinchillas fur in the same way as blue cloudin some cases not quite so well, but not to the point that your chinchilla would be greasy after it bathed. This paper from 2011 aimed to prove that we underestimate the risks of amorphous silica, and that products which contain it should be changed. They will take dust baths on their own if given the opportunity, but you can also help them out by providing a dust bath area. Its no more expensive than blue cloud. Its also a dust that is marketed for chinchilla use and is used extensively in the chinchilla breeding/owning community, with a history of success and chinchilla safety. These filters filter out particulate dust, while some even claim to filter out smoke, germs and molds. When this is caused by silica of some kind, the condition is referred to as silicosis, and its serious. Silicon is one of the elements of the periodic table. P.P.S. Alternatively, you could use reptile sand. It wont billow up when your chinchilla bathes in it, so it cant be breathed in. However, the result suggests a mechanistic difference between FcRIIA receptor-mediated and non-opsonized silica particle phagocytosis. If it makes things easier, consider changing the schedule by which you bathe your pet, e.g. You may also have to frequently change the filter in the purifier, especially because its filtering rock dust rather than something organic. But wild chinchillas dont eat hay; they eat living plants and grasses. Its not as good as fine dusts for cleaning chinchilla fur, but its better than using nothing, and it will trigger your pets bathing reflex. But amorphous silica, being round, is more easily gotten rid of. Is chinchilla dust harmful to humans? Here are the most common types used: The finer the dust, the better it cleans. 1. We know better than our chinchillas and can provide for them better than they can provide for themselves. Thats great. The likely reason that amorphous silica isnt shown to cause cancer is that it doesnt remain in the body as crystalline silica does. You may view this either as a positive or a negative. Cracking open the window an inch isnt enough to fully ventilate a room. Is dust bath safe? When fine dust billows up into the air, it hangs there for a few seconds. We compared the uptake and toxicity of amorphous silica to crystalline silica. This effect was shown by scientists working with mouse cells, which means the same likely applies to our cells. Sweet PDZ is usually used in horse stalls to eliminate and reduce odors. But not everything we think we know about chinchilla dust is true. If you do want to use an air purifier, pick one thats capable of handling large amounts of rock dust. Its only in the face of repeated exposure that silicosis becomes a real possibility. Sepiolite seems safer than silicate dusts. On a microscopic level, crystalline silica is more jagged and rough than amorphous silica, which is round. Just make sure its not treated with some kind of chemical before using it. Macrophages are immune system cells that bind to bad things the body wants to get rid of, but when they try to get rid of both kinds of silica, they go through apoptosisa kind of pre-programmed way for the macrophage cells to die. Its just as bad to breathe this dust in as it is to breathe in as your chinchilla is bathing; repeated, frequent or constant exposure is what you have to avoid. However, the result suggests a mechanistic difference between FcRIIA receptor-mediated and non-opsonized silica particle phagocytosis. Id like to avoid silica because its a known carcinogen, so I think Ill try out the aragonite sand instead and see how well it works. Apple wood sticks are one of the best chew toys. 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. Some owners will swear by one brand, other owners by another, but broadly they all do the same thing with roughly the same level of effectiveness. 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 unlike a normal fan, air purifiers have filters attached. Sand doesnt work like that; its made of tiny, solid rocks and shells. As I was already familiar with blue cloud dust and all the popular blue cloud brands, I was going to give an honest comparison on which brand I thought was best and be done with it. This dust isnt like regular dust; it doesnt break down. 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. Macrophages are immune system cells that bind to bad things the body wants to get rid of, but when they try to get rid of both kinds of silica, they go through apoptosisa kind of pre-programmed way for the macrophage cells to die. So, check before you buy. Crystalline silica is jagged, so can attach itself to the walls of the lungs. While it remains in the lungs, however, it seems that the two kinds of silica do the same damage. Its great at absorbing water, which is why its also used in soil for potted plants. At first it was perfectly healthy, but now it seems to not want to eat its pellets any more. Once your chinchilla is done bathing, you must do what you can to stop the dust settling. If none of your rooms has an extractor fan, pick a room that has large windows. Cultured macrophages bind crystalline silica particles, phagocytose them, and rapidly undergo apoptotic and necrotic death. Did you come across any validation of these concerns in your research? The major drawback with real air purifiers is that theyre expensive. The effects of blue cloud dust on a chinchillas lungs are less clear. 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. As chinchillas are mammals, their respiratory system is the same as ours. They state that: Animal inhalation studies with intentionally manufactured synthetic amorphous silica showed at least partially reversible inflammation, granuloma formation and emphysema, but no progressive fibrosis of the lungs [Ed: which is the core issue that silica dusts cause]. Corn starch also sticks to fur more than rock dust. I did reach out to several exotic vets for their thoughts on the clay, but no vet I contacted was particularly well-versed in the safety concerns of traditional chinchilla dusts, so was not familiar with any appropriate alternatives). Thats especially true if you have asthma, lung damage from smoking, or are otherwise unhealthy. Alternatively, you could use reptile sand. 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. As such, weve made some recommendations below that should mitigate some of the risks associated with its use. They can still damage the lungs if inhaled frequently, but this is less likely. These are pulmonary fibrosis and cancer. by | Sep 29, 2022 | e11 led bulb 150w equivalent dimmable | fortnite x marvel: zero war codes | Sep 29, 2022 | e11 led bulb 150w There are two core issues related to the inhalation of silica dusts. Natural doesnt necessarily mean good. How Many Jobs Are Available in Computer Software Prepackaged Software? There are two core issues related to the inhalation of silica dusts. Bathing dust is very inexpensive, although the cost can add up if you have lots of chinchillas. Let's say your chinchilla escapes from its cage. If there is a difference between amorphous and crystalline silica, it will be due to the difficulty with which they can be expressed from the lungs. We feed our pets hay because: The upshot of all this is that chinchillas live longer on an unnatural diet than they do on what they eat in the wild. The major drawback with real air purifiers is that theyre expensive. These effects have been shown in many studies, which are linked below. Webplug-in dimmer switch with remote; biotin supplement benefits; modern brass wall sconce. The link between amorphous aluminum silicate (blue cloud) and cancer is less clear. ChillDusts manufacturer, Hess Pumice, has a plethora of helpful product information available on their website, including human safety analysis information. 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