Your Daily Additives – Anticaking Agents – Calcium Silicate

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In all my research there are some things I still just don’t understand. For example, a safety sheet on Calcium Silicate specifically says, “Consult a specialist BEFORE handling this product, avoid skin contact, keep unconscious victims warm and on their sides to avoid choking if vomiting occurs.”

I have to ask: If a “food product” has these warnings, if you have to consult specialists and follow local, state and federal regulations to dispose of a product, can you assume it’s safe to eat? If workers have to be screened with a medical examination before going on the job to be able to work with an ingredient, where does the Generally Recognized as Safe come in to play? When workers are suggested not to eat, drink or use tobacco products after handling said product, where’s the general safety?

It must be magic that once a chemical goes from the laboratory to the food supply it becomes safe, but when it’s being handled, there’s a laundry list of safety precautions and procedures to follow. These are the things being put in your food.

General research

Calcium Silicate

Calcium Silicate, including synthetic Calcium Silicate, may be safely used in food

  • 2%Vanilla Powder
  • 2% in foods
  • 2%  In animal feeds
  • 5% in baking powder

Silicate – Any of numerous compounds containing Silicon

Calcium Silicate uses:

  • Used as a substitute for materials containing silica in ceramics and as a substitute for asbestos in wallboard, insulation and brake linings
  • Used as a constituent of lime glass and Portland cement
  • Used as a reinforcing filler in elastomers and plastics, paints, ceramics, paper and wallboard
  • Used as an anticaking ingredient in table salt, baking powder, foods, powdered pharmaceuticals and cosmetics
  • Used as an aggregate in road construction
  • Used as a binder in refractory material, as a thermal insulator and as a paper coating chromatography

Other food products where Calcium Silicate are present

Typically manufactured by combining slaked quicklime with silica and stirring in a vessel at elevated temperature and pressure

One experiment in rats showed significant increase in the incidence of pleural sarcomas after calcium silicate fibers were implanted.

Synthetic or natural materials that have Calcium Silicate as a base may cause dermal irritation. Prolonged contact and possible induction of altered pulmonary function and lesions when silicate or asbestos are also present

Ingestion exposure:

  • Have the victim rinse the contaminated mouth cavity several times with fluid such as water
  • Have victim drink a glass (8oz) of fluid such as water
  • Induce vomiting by giving syrup of ipecac. If ipecac is unavailable, have the victim touch the back of throat with a finger until productive vomiting ceases.

Keep unconscious victims warm and on their sides to avoid choking if vomiting occurs. Initiate the following emergency procedures:

  • Eye exposure: Irritation may result. Immediately and thoroughly flush the eyes with large amounts of water, occasionally lifting the upper and lower eye lids.
  • Skin exposure: Irritation may result. Immediately and thoroughly was contaminated skin with soap and water
  • Ingestion exposure: Move the victim to fresh air immediately. Have victim blow his or her nose, or use a soft tissue to remove particles or residues from the nostrils.

Before a worker is placed on the job with a potential for exposure to Calcium Silicate, a licensed care professional should evaluate and document the workers baseline health status with thorough medical, environmental, and occupational histories, a physical examination, and physiologic and laboratory tests appropriate for the anticipated occupational risks.

Workers should not eat, drink, use tobacco products or apply cosmetics in areas where Calcium Silicate is handled, processed or stored.

A worker who handles Calcium Silicate should thoroughly wash hands, forearms, and face with soap and water before eating, using tobacco products, using toilet facilities or applying cosmetics.

Spills:

In the event of a spill of Calcium Silicate, persons not wearing protective equipment and clothing should be restricted from the contaminated area until cleanup is complete.

Personal Protection:

Splash goggles. Lab coat. Dust respirator. Be sure to use an approved/certified respirator or equivalent. Gloves. Suggested protective clothing might not be sufficient; consult a specialist BEFORE handling this product.

Federal and State Regulations:

  • Rhode Island RTK hazardous substances: Calcium Silicate
  • Pennsylvania RTK: Calcium Silicate
  • Florida: Calcium Silicate
  • Massachusetts RTK: Calcium Silicate
  • TSCA 8(b) inventory: Calcium Silicate

 References

Legal G.R.A.S

http://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/21/184.1

G.R.A.S. List

http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/fcn/fcnNavigation.cfm?rpt=eafusListing

Some extra reading material

John Parks
For two years I've thoroughly enjoyed researching the food additives "scientests" produce and put into all processed food. Also how the FDA classifies them as G.R.A.S. (Generally Recognized As Safe) With about 95% of the research I've done over the last two years the actual science, toxicity reports, manufacturing processes and pure technical aspect of it suggests otherwise.

When you see something that is "hazardous by definition", toxic, poisonous or corrosive and it's in the food you're eating, you would surely have to stop, think and ask, "That's going to go in me. Wait... It passes through the placental barrier? It decreases the testicular weight in mice? It's produced with volvano ash? It's processed with asbestos and krypton gas?"

Now, my main argument is this: If you know the food additive is toxic, corrosive or hazardous by definition, if it requires flammable or corrosive DOT stickers while transporting, if it has saftey precautions, spill procedures and you must wear suitable protective clothing while handling... Can you even assume it's safe to eat?

Irregardless of the exposure limits, the actual amount in food itself, how many regulations and standards there are or how low the toxicity may be... It is the general principle that the additives are still put in the foods you eat on a daily basis. I personally don't believe that when a tomato is dropped you have to evacuate the area and seal off the exits. Because that is exactly the procedure for some of the chemcial agents the FDA allowed in food.