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. The key difference you need to understand is that between crystalline and amorphous aluminum silicate dusts. and the borates that the cellulose is treated with are non-toxic to humans. Through industry, weve also created various other kinds of safe dust that dont cause this damage. It was long thought that amorphous silica cant be dangerous because of its shape. This effect was shown by scientists working with mouse cells, which means the same likely applies to our cells. Synthetic amorphous silica, referred to as SAS, has been implicated in fibrosis. Cultured macrophages bind crystalline silica particles, phagocytose them, and rapidly undergo apoptotic and necrotic death. It kills thousands of people a year, mostly tradesmen who are frequently exposed to silica and silicon-based dusts; it can kill either through direct damage to the lungs, or through facilitating lung cancer. But they also found that the effects of crystalline silica were irreversible, while rats that inhaled amorphous silica arguably made a full recovery. Did you come across any validation of these concerns in your research? 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. They cost hundreds of dollars. In contrast, only a small population of cells stained TUNEL-positive after exposure to crystalline silica. I would say give it a go, and if it works for you the same as or better than corn starch, go for it. Thats exactly what blue cloud does. Blue cloud dust is made from something called rhyolite. This would explain why crystalline silica can cause cancer so easily: its causes both direct damage to DNA and long-term inflammation. You want a mask with a filter, like a 3M mask, a P2 mask or a P3 mask. If this tumor spreads to other parts of the body, its classified as cancer. So, check before you buy. New owner, don't know where to start? Other advantages include: Corn starch isnt a kooky home remedy; its already used by many owners. We know better than our chinchillas and can provide for them better than they can provide for themselves. Considering that you need to dust your chinchilla frequently, and that the residue of the dust remains long after bathing, this is a genuine problem. Aragonite sand would be my second because of terrain location considerations (i.e., chinchillas dwell in the mountains; aragonite sand comes from the ocean seabed). This rhyolite is then processed to get rid of anything that isnt aluminum silicate. This means the body cant get rid of the dust specks easily. 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. The problem isnt the aluminum or the silica; rather, its the inhalation of any fine powder that cant be broken down inside the body. 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. 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. Chinchillas bathe in dust. Can you point me in a direction for a childrens play sand that does not contain crystalline silica? This same effect has been demonstrated in other studies, although some argue the link specifically between aluminum silicate and silicosis isnt clear. Theres a reason for that. They cost hundreds of dollars. This is a reasonable question. Sepiolite seems safer than silicate dusts. Im really glad you like our site! Sepiolite is a mineral thats also known as meerschaum. Here are the most common types used: The finer the dust, the better it cleans. Thanks again, LoveMyChinchilla, for posting this article and prompting my research deep-dive! Crucially, many people report that theyre allergic to the dust but not other far more common allergens like hay, which really do cause allergic reaction. Corn starch (or corn flour in the U.K.) makes a reasonable alternative to rock-based dusts. As such, almost every owner recommends blue cloud dust from one of various brands. Thank you so much for this informative article. But that doesnt mean its 100% safe. 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. Less harmful to users health. All of the most popular brands of chinchilla dust are blue cloud, or at least have blue cloud among their range. Sepiolite dust. This is more common in the U.K. than the U.S., and is made from a mineral called meerschaum. In contrast, only a small population of cells stained TUNEL-positive after exposure to crystalline silica. Read the research below, especially the scientific papers linking amorphous silicate dust to serious health issues, and come to your own conclusion. This is a kind of sand sold by pet stores for reptiles to bathe in. There will always be owners who swear by it and have never reported a problem, so will continue using it. Respirators are masks that have filters in them. It can be found in pet stores or, alternatively, hardware/DIY stores. Ill keep that in mind! This means that sand has a slight cleaning effect, but isnt as good as dusts. 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. Posted on September 29, 2022 by acrylic ice bucket with stand When fine dust billows up into the air, it hangs there for a few seconds. Like silica, pumice shouldnt be inhaled as it damages the lungs when you breathe it in. This is actually something that applies to all rodents, not just chinchillas. The list below breaks them down into simple English, which scientific studies often dont! Advantages of Using Corn Starch for Bathing Chinchillas, Drawbacks of Using Corn Starch for Bathing Chinchillas, How to Use Corn Starch for Bathing Chinchillas. While we dont recommend it, we do recognize that blue cloud dust is easily the most popular among chinchilla owners. The key selling point of using corn starch is that it cleans fur in the exact same way as regular chinchilla dust does. I definitely want to avoid using anything that could cause harm to our children and to our chinchillas. Okay, thanks. I dont think Ive read of arrowroot being used before, but since its so similar to corn starch, I would guess that it would be roughly as good! We would recommend sepiolite, corn starch or sand instead. And on top of that, its cheap, and can be bought in large bulk bags. So, instead of twice a week, consider every other day. It's like using a net to capture a wild animal. My entire family thanks you! Further study is needed to claim that its perfectly safe. In some of the forum discussions I found, it sounded like there were several chinchilla owners who were using it with success. Thank you again for your guidance! They will flop, flip, and roll around in the dust to cover their coat and remove any unwanted dirt or oils. So they learned to chew on roots to get rid of them. Cancer is primarily associated with crystalline silica, and no studies have, as of yet, proven a definitive link between amorphous silica and cancer. Cracking open the window an inch isnt enough to fully ventilate a room. In very hot, humid weather or climates, chinchillas often need access to their dust baths closer to 4 times per week. Youre therefore constantly breathing it in if you use it. Its in the exact same way that we recommend against using blue cloud dust. Vitamins and minerals are vital for organ function, muscle function and brain function in all animals. So appreciate knowing Im not alone in my concerns and my journey to find better health options for our entire family! If none of your rooms has an extractor fan, pick a room that has large windows. Another example is the idea of the exercise ball. It will then stay there until its dusted away, and when its disturbed, youll breathe even more of it in. The reason why owners dont use corn starch is that its not quite as effective as regular dust. The likely reason that amorphous silica isnt shown to cause cancer is that it doesnt remain in the body as crystalline silica does. This is a problem because mines have to publish data on the what they dig up, what it is, and its mineral content. Its in the exact same way that we recommend against using blue cloud dust. Make sure any bag you buy doesnt contain unusual additives; you want pure sepiolite. Our pet chinchillas eat hay and processed hay pellets, and were advised never to feed them fruits, vegetables and living grass as hay is a healthier choice. But wild chinchillas dont eat hay; they eat living plants and grasses. These filters pick out particles from the air to stop you breathing them in. Its now thought that the dust which blue cloud manufacturers use is made artificially. It may cause silicosis if breathed in frequently over a long period. Kaytee, a popular brand among chinchilla owners, make exercise balls supposedly suitable for chins. I would say try a hardware store, or there are lots on Amazon (maybe more expensive). Easily the best way to avoid breathing in dust is to wear a respirator. Some are rougher and sharper, while others have finer grains. Then, when youre done dusting, open the windows to allow a through draft in. I was curious if, in your research, you came across anyone using and advocating for arrowroot powder as a dust substitute? But that mine has since closed. These effects have been shown in many studies, which are linked below. Blue cloud dust is the common name for aluminum silicate dust which is known to damage the lungs. We also dont know exactly where the various brands of blue cloud dust get their dusts from. On a microscopic level, crystalline silica is more jagged and rough than amorphous silica, which is round. But pure silica dusts are just as bad, if not worse, than less-processed dusts. Alternatively, you could use reptile sand. 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. Chinchillas need to chew on things to stop their teeth from getting too long. Sweet PDZ in powder form. As youll know from experience, chinchilla dust hangs in the air, and for days afterwards is present as a thin coat on all your belongings. Aluminum silicate, the only ingredient in blue cloud dust, is a combination of aluminum and silica. Thats why builders and tradesmen who work in environments with lots of silicate dust in the air can stay safe just by wearing a respirator. You can use them to get your chinchilla close to you for the first time, or to sit on your hand for the first time. While chinchillas arent reptiles, rodents can use this same kind of sand. Web : buerkle honda service coupons what to wear to cover shoulders at wedding - - - You could even consider dusting if you have a feather duster you can use. It could therefore damage the purifier if it isnt built to handle that kind of dust. Like silica, pumice shouldnt be inhaled as it damages the lungs when you breathe it in. The link between crystalline minerals and lung disease has long been clear. Studies on whether it causes lung damage have so far stated that it doesnt, although that doesnt prove definitively that it cant. Is dust bath safe? Synthetic amorphous silica, referred to as SAS, has been implicated in fibrosis. 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. It isnt built to handle that kind of sand cleaning effect, but isnt as good as dusts was. The forum discussions i found, it sounded like there were several owners! 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