# Scientific research of food grade diatomaceous earth? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 28, 2010, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-research-of-food-grade-diatomaceous-earth/565625 "2010-12-28T18:04:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2010, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-research-of-food-grade-diatomaceous-earth/565625/21 "2010-12-29T02:47:52Z")
> [@Blut\_Aus\_Nord](#): > > If you’re insinuating that I, the TC, “fell” for anything, then I’m sorry to have given that impression. I’m fully aware of the far-fetched nature of the claims behind DE, and of the laughable web design in the link I posted, but it is always possible that I missed something in my search for any scientific backing. > > I came across this stuff when a bunch of friends gave me wild anecdotes related to it, such as weight loss, lighter periods, improved sleep, etc. No one seems to have found any experimental evidence to support these claims, so I’m still not convinced. Sure, it’s woo-woo, but you came to the right place, your suspicious were well founded- thanks! ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-research-of-food-grade-diatomaceous-earth/565625/23 "2012-04-04T14:13:17Z")
> [@1ofaKinder](#): > > Yes, friends. > I have tried DE because of cleaning solvents I have been around all of my vocational career. I have tried it for a couple of weeks in fruit juice and distilled water and discontinued it for my fear of deposits accumulating in my body. But I intend to resume at some point because I sense a genuine need to detoxify multiple years of large build up of chemicals and heavy metals as a result of my vocation and the poor quality of American foods now available due to genetic ill-producing modifications, and other pollution exposure. > > I hope this is helpful and will myself be continuing to look for research and studies on DE. > > 1oaK. I hope you’ll forgive me for not finding creationist tax-frauds a convincing source of information. Also, if your vocation has exposed you to bio-accumulating chemicals and heavy metals, eating sand is not going to rid you of them. ETA: Unless you are a zombie. I think their digestion works differently from ours. ---
**Author:** ![Jaymosch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaymosch/32/2820_2.png) [@Jaymosch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaymosch)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-research-of-food-grade-diatomaceous-earth/565625/24 "2012-04-04T15:10:46Z")
> [@1ofaKinder](#): > > I have tried DE because of cleaning solvents I have been around all of my vocational career. I have tried it for a couple of weeks in fruit juice and distilled water and discontinued it for my fear of deposits accumulating in my body. But I intend to resume at some point because I sense a genuine need to detoxify multiple years of large build up of chemicals and heavy metals as a result of my vocation and the poor quality of American foods now available due to genetic ill-producing modifications, and other pollution exposure. How would having DE, which pretty much amounts to sand, going through your digestive tract remove chemicals and heavy metals from your body? ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-research-of-food-grade-diatomaceous-earth/565625/25 "2012-04-04T15:39:20Z")
> [@1ofaKinder](#): > > You may also search further on the speaker Kent Hovind. A young-earth creationist whose positions have been criticized even by other young-earth creationists? That isn’t exactly the best argument for eating silicon dioxide.:dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-research-of-food-grade-diatomaceous-earth/565625/26 "2012-04-04T18:18:37Z")
Heh. I was about to post a warning based on another DE thread we had around here a while ago. It was started by a True Believer, who got thoroughly crushed and debunked to death, and then resurrected by at least three more over the next year or so, only to go through the same old arguments again and again. I was going to suggest something similar might happen here. Looks like I’m too late again. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-research-of-food-grade-diatomaceous-earth/565625/27 "2012-04-04T20:13:16Z")
[moderating] I have banned the spammer, but since there are so many replies, I just redacted the links and left the original post there. [/moderating] ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-research-of-food-grade-diatomaceous-earth/565625/28 "2012-04-04T20:59:40Z")
> [@Lasciel](#): > > It’s a non-chemical pest control. No it isn’t. Silica is a chemical. Everything is a chemical. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-research-of-food-grade-diatomaceous-earth/565625/29 "2012-04-04T21:37:15Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > No it isn’t. Silica is a chemical. Everything is a chemical. You’re kidding. Silicon dioxide is a chemical? God, they’re EVERYWHERE. ---
**Author:** ![nate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nate/32/13085_2.png) [@nate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nate)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-research-of-food-grade-diatomaceous-earth/565625/30 "2012-04-04T22:23:51Z")
My dad started taking this stuff several months ago. A few days ago while in the emergency room, he learned he had four kidney stones, two in each kidney. I’m not saying that the DE caused them, but it scared him enough to stop taking it. ---
**Author:** ![Testy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c37758/32.png) [@Testy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Testy)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-research-of-food-grade-diatomaceous-earth/565625/31 "2012-04-05T14:46:36Z")
Does anyone know the difference between food grade and non food grade DE? I want to use it to keep parasites off my chickens but don’t see why I need food grade DE for this. Thanks Testy ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-research-of-food-grade-diatomaceous-earth/565625/32 "2012-04-05T15:35:45Z")
Are you even able to _find_ non-food-grade DE? Or … is that the stuff you get at the pool supply store for filtration? (Is it that much cheaper?) ---
**Author:** ![Testy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c37758/32.png) [@Testy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Testy)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-research-of-food-grade-diatomaceous-earth/565625/33 "2012-04-05T15:40:09Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Are you even able to _find_ non-food-grade DE? Or … is that the stuff you get at the pool supply store for filtration? (Is it that much cheaper?) **purplehorse** I have no idea. My wife just mentioned that we needed some “food grade DE” for the chicken house and my immediate thought was “Why food grade to kill bugs with?” Not really sure if there is non food grade but if there is, it should cost less. Regards Testy ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-research-of-food-grade-diatomaceous-earth/565625/34 "2012-04-05T15:55:22Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > No it isn’t. Silica is a chemical. Everything is a chemical. Thank you, captain obvious. In the context of the original post, I was trying to indicate that it was a pest-control device that works mechanically, not through chemical reactions. In other words, it kills bugs not by poisoning them, but by slicing holes in their outsides, rendering them somewhat soon after dead by dehydration. > [@Testy](#): > > Does anyone know the difference between food grade and non food grade DE? I want to use it to keep parasites off my chickens but don’t see why I need food grade DE for this. > > Thanks > > Testy From what I have been able to tell, food grade DE is the following: freshwater diatoms (rather than salt-water), more finely ground than pool grade (smaller-finer cutting edges), isn’t heat-treated (leaving it a powder instead of caking into larger solid chunks) and is more consistently silica-only (instead of having other clay or sediment involved as filler). [This](http://www.shadowridgedonkeys.com/ds_perma_guard.htm) link is from a provider of food-grade DE, but it’s the least “woo” I could find. The [Wiki article](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diatomaceous_earth) is fairly straightforward also. ---
**Author:** ![Testy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c37758/32.png) [@Testy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Testy)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-research-of-food-grade-diatomaceous-earth/565625/35 "2012-04-05T16:24:38Z")
> [@Lasciel](#): > > Thank you, captain obvious. In the context of the original post, I was trying to indicate that it was a pest-control device that works mechanically, not through chemical reactions. In other words, it kills bugs not by poisoning them, but by slicing holes in their outsides, rendering them somewhat soon after dead by dehydration. > > From what I have been able to tell, food grade DE is the following: freshwater diatoms (rather than salt-water), more finely ground than pool grade (smaller-finer cutting edges), isn’t heat-treated (leaving it a powder instead of caking into larger solid chunks) and is more consistently silica-only (instead of having other clay or sediment involved as filler). > > [This](http://www.shadowridgedonkeys.com/ds_perma_guard.htm) link is from a provider of food-grade DE, but it’s the least “woo” I could find. The [Wiki article](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diatomaceous_earth) is fairly straightforward also. **Lasciel** Thanks for this. I hadn’t read up on the amorphous vs crystalline versions of this. I guess I’ll just get the food grade stuff. Thanks again Testy ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-research-of-food-grade-diatomaceous-earth/565625/36 "2012-04-05T19:17:00Z")
My thanks as well. I tried searching around for explanations of the difference, and the wiki article - while thorough on the general matter - didn’t explain the exact details (to me, at least) well enough for me to sum it up succinctly like that. Hey, **testy** - are you talking about external or internal parasites on your chickens? ---
**Author:** ![Testy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c37758/32.png) [@Testy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Testy)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-research-of-food-grade-diatomaceous-earth/565625/37 "2012-04-05T21:23:51Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > My thanks as well. I tried searching around for explanations of the difference, and the wiki article - while thorough on the general matter - didn’t explain the exact details (to me, at least) well enough for me to sum it up succinctly like that. > > Hey, **testy** - are you talking about external or internal parasites on your chickens? **purplehorseshoe** External. If I understood correctly, we scatter it around the chicken house and it kills mites. (Possibly fleas or some other kind of bug) The web sites I saw about using it for internal parasites seemed iffy at best. In any event, I don’t think the chickens have internal parasites. Regards Testy ---
**Author:** ![aliasa123](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@aliasa123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aliasa123)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-research-of-food-grade-diatomaceous-earth/565625/38 "2012-04-25T16:28:06Z")
Food grade DE is not chemically treated, that’s the main difference. If you are going to put it into your body, or your pet’s body, near your food that you are growing, you don’t want chemicals in it. ---
**Author:** ![Hawke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/9de0a6/32.png) [@Hawke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawke)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2012, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-research-of-food-grade-diatomaceous-earth/565625/39 "2012-12-27T16:48:00Z")
> [@Testy](#): > > Does anyone know the difference between food grade and non food grade DE? I want to use it to keep parasites off my chickens but don’t see why I need food grade DE for this. > > Thanks > > Testy The non food grade is deadly to animals and people and used in swimming pool chemicals. Stay away from it, dangerous.😉 ---
**Author:** ![Hawke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/9de0a6/32.png) [@Hawke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawke)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2012, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-research-of-food-grade-diatomaceous-earth/565625/40 "2012-12-27T17:08:35Z")
Hi, I new to this sight have had found several website regarding DE. I got very sick first part of November and was on different (6) different medications including steroids to no avail. My neighbor told me about DE so ordered some right away. I have read more negative comments about DE than positive. After taking DE for a week started feeling better (this was first part of December). I take a tsp three times a day will no ill effects and feel wonderful and even use it with my toothpaste when brushing my teeth. Wow, great tarter remover. I have been giving it to my dogs/cats, their coats are shinier, soft and they have so much more energy and seem happier. Some is absorbed into the bloodstream and cleans out your arteries, they claim, guess I will not know that until I have another test done. It is not a chemical yet a mineral and when you buy Food Grade it has other minerals also that are beneficial. It kills all kinds of pests so be careful you do not want to lose the beneficial ones. I have forwarded some questions to one website with additional questions and will post them with the responses when I get them. Most sites I have read state you really cannot overdose on this stuff yet certainly will not take more than two tablespoons a day. I could go on and on yet this is my opinion only that it is great stuff. Going to start some of my horses, I have 13, on it then compare results with the other worm medicines I do not like giving to my horses. I hope everyone really check out all the websites that have Food Grade DE, you can believe them or not, your chose. God Bless and Happy New Year. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2012, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-research-of-food-grade-diatomaceous-earth/565625/41 "2012-12-27T18:29:13Z")
Diatomaceous Earth is just a form of clay made up of the exoskeletons of diatoms, little sea creatures. Silica, sand, that is all it is. It has the same nutritional properties as ordinary sand does, meaning none at all. If your dogs and cats coats seem shinier and the animals are happier you are imagining this. DE kills garden pests, worms and insects because the little exoskeletons are just like little pieces of ground glass and poke holes in the pest’s bodies. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-research-of-food-grade-diatomaceous-earth/565625.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-research-of-food-grade-diatomaceous-earth/565625.md?page=3)