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994
MineralsChert
23rd May 2010 04:15 UTCMax Shelby
The structure of chert, cryptocrystalline itself describes the problem: crystalline.
The main ingredient of chert is silica.
Health effects of inhaling silica, as in chert mining, are well established medical science.
27th Jun 2010 01:36 UTCRobert Simonoff
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Just because it has not been entered into the mindat database, it does not mean there is not a danger.There is a big danger in assuming that just because mindat does not have a health warning, that a mineral is entirely safe for all activities. I wonder if mindat is opening itself up to liability on this front?
30th Jun 2010 19:13 UTCRob Woodside 🌟 Manager
30th Jun 2010 19:24 UTCRob Woodside 🌟 Manager
"For health warnings, please leave blank unless there is specific and detailed information about the toxicity of this mineral (Do not just put 'toxic' or 'non-toxic'). Evidence of toxicity or other health isues should be backed up with references either in print or on the web"
Max, do you have any suitable references?
30th Jun 2010 19:56 UTCAlfredo Petrov Manager
30th Jun 2010 20:32 UTCAlex Homenuke 🌟 Expert
30th Jun 2010 21:59 UTCAlfredo Petrov Manager
30th Jun 2010 22:10 UTCReiner Mielke Expert
30th Jun 2010 22:57 UTCAmir C. Akhavan Expert
Mineralogical characteristics of the silica polymorphs in relation to their biological activities
in: Second International Symposium on Silica, Silicosis, and Cancer
Los Alamos National Laboratory 1993
D.F. Goldsmith
Health effects of silica dust exposure
in: Reviews in Mineralogy, Vol.29
Silica - Physical behavior, geochemistry and materials applications
Mineralogical Society of America, Washington, D.C., 1994
There are of course a lot more studies, also more recently, just search on your favorite search engine...
Of course, I got a lot of silica at home and don't feel uncomfortable because of it.
But we should not forget that flint and chert are occasionally used in lapidary works and get cut and polished, so it does not hurt to mention that the dust does no good (which is perhaps true of many silicates that are somewhat stable in human tissue).
30th Jun 2010 23:11 UTCRob Woodside 🌟 Manager
30th Jun 2010 23:14 UTCDonald Slater
30th Jun 2010 23:40 UTCAmir C. Akhavan Expert
The effect of silica dust on your health is much more specific than that. It is, for example, very different from that of cigarette smoke.
If a specific physiological effect is known for a mineral (good or bad) then it should be considered as interesting information about the mineral that can be added to the database. It might be put in a different section that is not read as a "warning".
A general warning "mineral dust should not be inhaled" is the way to deal with it from an insurance company mind's perspective.
1st Jul 2010 00:11 UTCPaul Brandes 🌟 Manager
I tend to agree with Rob and Alfredo on this one; I believe the management has much more pressing issues than worrying about the health effects of chert and fostering a sense of fear among its users.
1st Jul 2010 02:57 UTCRalph S Bottrill 🌟 Manager
1st Jul 2010 11:18 UTCRock Currier Expert
1st Jul 2010 12:33 UTCDavid Von Bargen Manager
1st Jul 2010 12:48 UTCRock Currier Expert
1st Jul 2010 13:21 UTCAlfredo Petrov Manager
1st Jul 2010 14:07 UTCEvan Johnson
EMJ
1st Jul 2010 16:24 UTCMarco Barsanti Manager
1st Jul 2010 18:09 UTCAmir C. Akhavan Expert
Mindat puts a section called "Health Warning:" under "Other Information" on each mineral description page.
I guess this has been done intentionally.
What is the purpose other than listing information on potential adverse health effects?
I don't see anything bad in doing so.
The information given in the Mindat description of quartz is appropriate and doesn't sound scary at all.
Giving proper information with references and putting up warning signs are two different things.
8th Oct 2010 00:15 UTCAriel S Wall
Ariel
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Copyright © mindat.org and the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy 1993-2024, except where stated. Most political location boundaries are © OpenStreetMap contributors. Mindat.org relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Founded in 2000 by Jolyon Ralph.
Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions - Contact Us / DMCA issues - Report a bug/vulnerability Current server date and time: April 20, 2024 01:50:59