Facts about Diatomaceous earth, also called diatomite or Kieselguhr
Diatomaceous earth, also called diatomite or Kieselguhr, is a fossilized mineral of vegetable origin. It represents the accumulation of an enormous number of fossil diatoms. Diatoms are single cell plants of microscopic size. There are many varieties that live in both freshwater lakes and saltwater oceans, staying close to the surface where they form part of the abundant plankton. Alive, they are at the base of the food chain. Dead, they leave a tiny skeleton known as a frustules, often of great beauty and intricacy like microscopic jewels.
Whereas most other plants use solar energy to synthesize cellulose for their cell walls, the diatom has elected to extract silica from the water, building for itself what amounts to an elegant, but strong shell with highly symmetrical perforations.
Diatomite or Kieselguhr must be marked with a “Johannes cross” on the bags and are dangerous to human beings. You get stone lungs from the dust. You can get cancer.
In the EU Countries there is a legislation saying: You must change a dangerous product with a less dangerous product, if technical possible.
Thousand of practical uses proves that it is possible to use Perlite filter aid instead of Kieselguhr !