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What happens when a kid eats silica gel?
Unfortunately, children can mistake a packet for food, candy, or a chew toy and eat the silica gel or the entire packet. Silica gel is chemically inert. This means it won’t break down in the body and cause poisoning. However, because it won’t break down, the gel or packet and gel can cause choking.
Is silica gel actually toxic?
Silica gel packs may be found in boxes containing electronics or new shoes and inside purses or medicine bottles. The packets contain either granular silicic acid, which resembles sand, or tiny gel beads. Silica gel is non-toxic, meaning that it is not poisonous if eaten.
Is silica gel bad for your lungs?
Inhalation of silica gel is another risk; breathing-in may cause lung irritation, coughing and dyspnoea (short of breath). The small bags can cause choking and the packet may lacerate and release the contents into the mouth, throat, gullet or lungs.
What does silica gel taste like?
Nothing. Silica gel is a form of the naturally occurring mineral silicon dioxide, better known in its granular form as sand or in crystals as quartz. At least one manufacturer even markets a modified form of silica gel as a dietary supplement, complete with “new citrus taste.”
What happens when silica gel is mixed with water?
The mixture forms a gel that is then dried out. Silica gel is a desiccant that can hold 30 to 40\% of its weight in water. Water molecules stick to its surface, which is called adsorption. The similar-sounding phenomenon of absorption, involves the material being chemically incorporated into the material itself.
What happens if you drink water with the silica gel packet left in?
While it is not toxic, it can cause dehydration if swallowed. The label that screams ‘DO NOT EAT’ is actually meant for small kids, considering it is a choking hazard. If your child actually ends up eating some silica, you should give them some water as it may cause dry mouth.
Are silica packets Food Safe?
Silica gel is food safe. Food-grade silica gel desiccants are safe to use to remove moisture from food. It is unregulated in most countries as silica gel is inert and not toxic.
How long do silica packets last?
The shelf life of silica gel in a sealed environment can safely be said to be between 4 and 12 months.
What are the side effects of silica?
Breathing in very small (“respirable”) crystalline silica particles, causes multiple diseases, including silicosis, an incurable lung disease that leads to disability and death. Respirable crystalline silica also causes lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and kidney disease.
Is silica safe to consume?
Although consuming silica doesn’t appear to have negative effects, inhaling small particles of it can increase your risk of developing serious silica-related diseases, such as: Silicosis. Lung cancer.