Perlite

[MattyB]

Have any of you experienced any bad effects from being exposed to Perlite?  I mix it in with all my potting soil and I think I might be getting coughing attacks at night because of it even though I use a particle mask.  Please share.  Thank you.

[sonoranfans]

(MattyB @ Dec. 21 2007,14:43)

QUOTE

Have any of you experienced any bad effects from being exposed to Perlite?  I mix it in with all my potting soil and I think I might be getting coughing attacks at night because of it even though I use a particle mask.  Please share.  Thank you.

You could be inhaling fine dust particles of the pearlite Matty.  You can limit this by wetting down the pearlite BEFORE mixing it with the soil.  It makes the mixing more tedious, but wetting the pearlite before handling it will supress the dust in the air.  My years of experience with dust masks is that the cannister type works, but the face cups dont because dust gets around them.

[LJG]

Funny you mention this. Last weekend I did a bunch of mixing and I dumped the remaining Perlite into a 55 gallon trash can for storage. It took me two days to stop coughing. I knew once I dumped it and the stuff came flying up into my nose, it was not good. You were smart and used a mask.

[BigFrond]

You guys have to be careful not to inhale the stuff too often because it is cancer causing stuff.  You should wet it first and place yourself between the wind direction and the perlite.

[LJG]

If the Perlite I breathed does nto give me cancer, all the glue I sniff surely will.

[Mats]

Matt, you might think about switching to Pumice.  It doesn't have near the amount of dust as Perlite and since it's heavier, it doesn't float to the surface like Perlite tends to do.  If you do continue to use Perlite, follow Tom's advice and wet it down before handling.

[Matt in SD]

When I pour perlite, I don't wear a mask.  I just hold my breath while pouring, then run away and stay away for a while.  No coughing.  

My only issue with wetting it is that on one occaision with pumice I found that all the dust mixed into my final mix seemed to impede drainage.  Since then I either water it VERY thoroughly in a pot with drain holes to get rid of the dust (pain in the A#!#) or pour it slowly in a windy spot so the dust blows away (while holding my breath of course).  

If was pouring perlite more than once or twice a year I would probably get a good mask or make some sort of screen device to make washing it easier.  It's definitely not good to breath both in terms of short term (coughing) and long term (cancer) effects.

Matt

[sonoranfans]

Matty, by the way I use pearlite all the time to plant trees in the ground.  It increases the breathability of soil with something that will not degrade(like compost), and also helps retain moisture better than sand.  I use a mix of all three to get the best of the clay here.  Its great stuff, but you  really dont want it in your lungs.  I might try an expectorant(robitussin expectorant or something similar) to get out what is in there.  People that get cancer from the stuff have repeated exposure over longer periods.  When I use it, I'm outside(not in a greenhouse) and I wet it down.  No mask needed if its nicely wetted and you are outside it wont float in the air, too heavy.  Inside, I'd use a cannister particle mask and wet it down good.  The cannister masks are better at filtering small particles and air doesnt tend to get by the mask where the mask touches the face.

[FRITO]

thanks for this reminder.  I forgot about the perlite dust... i just got a large 4 cubic foot bag and have been doing some potting up.

I have yard masks and even one of those canistor darth vader masks

[tank]

(Matt in SD @ Dec. 21 2007,17:27)

QUOTE

When I pour perlite, I don't wear a mask.  I just hold my breath while pouring, then run away and stay away for a while.  No coughing.  

Funny.

I do the same thing.  I run away from the cloud and come back several seconds later after it clears out.

I'm glad I wasn't the first to admit it .

[Cycadcenter]

The perlite seems to be getting finer and finer, we switched to the green plastic bag stuff from AHS and it is much better.  If you need bigger perlite with no dust buy the #4 grade.

We are also using a lot of scoria which is available from Hansons in Mira Mesa for abt $55.00 per cubic yd.

Bruce

[calyptrocalyx&licuala freck]

(sonoranfans @ Dec. 21 2007,15:12)

QUOTE

(MattyB @ Dec. 21 2007,14:43)

QUOTE

Have any of you experienced any bad effects from being exposed to Perlite?  I mix it in with all my potting soil and I think I might be getting coughing attacks at night because of it even though I use a particle mask.  Please share.  Thank you.

You could be inhaling fine dust particles of the pearlite Matty.  You can limit this by wetting down the pearlite BEFORE mixing it with the soil.  It makes the mixing more tedious, but wetting the pearlite before handling it will supress the dust in the air.  My years of experience with dust masks is that the cannister type works, but the face cups dont because dust gets around them.

Hi Matt,

Love the Avatar man, With masks, the best to use is a

one that has Charcoal in the cartridge,

There great for those sorts of jobs.

And you should stop coughing.

There's alot on the Market now, so much safer than wot

we use to have about.

Lots of great pointers given by all, Our health is important.

Cheers,  Mikey.

Hi  Len,    You Crack me up dude, can't stop laughing :laugh:  :laugh: Love the reply,  Just don't

get your nose hairs stuck together, or your nose.

Regards ,sniff sniff..... Mikey.

[BigFrond]

(tank @ Dec. 21 2007,18:12)

QUOTE

(Matt in SD @ Dec. 21 2007,17:27)

QUOTE

When I pour perlite, I don't wear a mask.  I just hold my breath while pouring, then run away and stay away for a while.  No coughing.  

Funny.

I do the same thing.  I run away from the cloud and come back several seconds later after it clears out.

I'm glad I wasn't the first to admit it .

I've have been known to use this method at times also.  I hold my breath and let the wind blast it away, do what I have to do, and run away.  Works like a charm every time.

[Neofolis]

The perlite that I get doesn't seem to be at all dusty and I have used various suppliers for it.  I have never experienced coughing that I would attribute to it, but then my collection is very small scale, so I'm never using very much at a time.  Maybe I just don't notice the coughing amongst all the other coughing from excessive smoking.  Great tip, take up smoking, you'll be coughing all the time anyway, so the perlite won't bother you.

[The Germinator]

I know Vermiculite causes cancer, I saw a Documentry where everyone in the town by the mine was getting cancer.

I think any kind of dust would be bad for your lungs.

[chris.oz]

Perlite does catch in your wind pipe   Not good...

[chris.oz]

(Neofolis @ Dec. 22 2007,02:10)

QUOTE

The perlite that I get doesn't seem to be at all dusty and I have used various suppliers for it.  I have never experienced coughing that I would attribute to it, but then my collection is very small scale, so I'm never using very much at a time.  Maybe I just don't notice the coughing amongst all the other coughing from excessive smoking.  Great tip, take up smoking, you'll be coughing all the time anyway, so the perlite won't bother you.

Ha !

[Alicehunter2000]

Alot of good suggestions here,......wetting, ventilation and masks. In my former life, I was an asbestos removal consultant and all of these suggestions are similar to steps we required on jobs. Just a couple of more tidbits to help keep down the dust.

1. If you wet the material, you really don't have to soak it. A better way might be to use a spray bottle or pump up sprayer. You need a fine mist......it would also help to add just a touch of surfactant (i.e. dishsoap) this helps at a molecular level to make the water stick to the perlite particles.

2. Ventilation. If you are mixing....mix outside if possible, with the wind blowing away from you and your house/car ect.. If not use a fan that pushes the air outside allowing fresh air to come in through another opening.

3. Masks. Definately use a cannister style mask. If you have a beard, you will not get a correct seal. The mask must be properly fitted. A simple test is to place your hand gently over the intakes (filters openings) and breath in slightly. If the mask caves in from the air pressure thats good. Now gently place your hand over the exhalation valve area. Blow out slightly......you should get a ballooning effect....this is a good seal. Use HEPA type filters......they are purple......these filter particles down to .05 microns....that is small!. The chemical filters (black) are not as effective.

Good luck.

[Kris]

Dear Matty  

very very useful topic,i did not know that it affects breathing & also carcenogenic in the long run _ thank you very much for this vital information...

Thanks & Love,

Kris  

[BS Man about Palms]

(BigFrond @ Dec. 21 2007,19:33)

QUOTE

(tank @ Dec. 21 2007,18:12)

QUOTE

(Matt in SD @ Dec. 21 2007,17:27)

QUOTE

When I pour perlite, I don't wear a mask.  I just hold my breath while pouring, then run away and stay away for a while.  No coughing.  

Funny.

I do the same thing.  I run away from the cloud and come back several seconds later after it clears out.

I'm glad I wasn't the first to admit it .

I've have been known to use this method at times also.  I hold my breath and let the wind blast it away, do what I have to do, and run away.  Works like a charm every time.

Count me in as part of this group also.  I've noticed its less of a problem with #3 than #2 , I'll have to look for the #4

Bruce mentioned.

BS

[Phil]

Matt,

There is a chronic lung disease called Silicosis that comes from exposure to sand and sand-type dust.  Perlite is made from "exploded" sand that is passed through a furnace chamber (as I understand it).  Thus it stands to reason that you should consider it as a risk as you would sand.   A good mask is in order and mix soils outdoors.  Also, have the wind work to your advantage.  I've also been told that the chambers where Perlite is made age and that old chambers make more fines.  #2 size has all the garbage fines in it.  Screening gives less dust with the larger sizes.  I don't think that pumice is the perfect replacement for Perlite, especially with germination of the more delicate palms.

Phil

[fastfeat]

I long for the days when I could buy different grades of perlite! In FL, I've only been able to find coarse (#4). Even better nurseries and fertilizer suppliers only sell the coarse here. I have to use a mortar and pestle to grind small quantities to use in seed mixes--a time consuming ordeal.

BTW, count me in the "dump and run" group. Actually, I really just stand there and breathe in as little as possible. (Keeping the crap out of my eyes is more important to me.)

Besides, after years of smoking two packs of Marlboro Reds a day, what's a little perlite dust gonna do??

[tropicalb]

I'll add my name to the "hold your breath and pour and run away til the cloud clears" list. Once I pour it though, I do wet it down so as not to have to breathe any more of the fines.

Perlite IS nasty stuff, and it WILL make you cough.

Bruce:

I have thought many times about using scoria, but after doing a lot of research on it, I became convinced that I shouldn't use it for potting up seedlings or one gallon plants, as the small crevices in the scoria seem to hold and trap any salts found in the water, and when you go to bump to a larger pot, the sharp edges of the scoria tend to rip and cut the heck out of the finer roots.

[BigFrond]

(fastfeat @ Dec. 23 2007,10:05)

QUOTE

Besides, after years of smoking two packs of Marlboro Reds a day, what's a little perlite dust gonna do??

Yeah, but filtered or unfiltered?    This goes for the Camels guys too.  I'm a sissy because I would be able to handle one puff.

[Phil]

TropicAlb,

My concern with pumice for seedlings would be whether or not the new roots could penetrate the pumice.  Cycad roots typically can penetrate it, but not always.  But, remember cycads have a heavy duty carrot of a tap root.  For germination of both, I use a combination of perlite and peat moss.  I am not aware of any cycad growers "germinating" in pure pumice.  Most will use it in their cycad soil.

Phil

[freakypalmguy]

Here's a link to some info on PERLITE

[KyleNcal]

I had the same thing happen to me from perlite. I was repotting tons of seedlings and breathing the perlite dust. My lungs were messed up and weezing for a few weeks, but now they seem fine. I'll wet it down from now on.

[MattyB]

So I just sprayed a bunch of water in the perlite bag and mixed the top 12" or so up with the water, then scooped and mixed w/ my potting soil.  It worked great.  Very easy solution to the problem.  Thanks guys.  You saved my life.

[Tad]

I know parboiled rice hulls are being toutedas a great perlite alternative  I dont know the availability of this product in calif, our perlite comes from Mexico, and is semi dustless, its a coarse blend, I just never notice that much dust from our stuff.