Silica Cautions

General warnings and precautions

Certain people should not take silica supplements:

  • Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding
    Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not take silica supplements due to the unknown effect on the unborn foetus and young infant.There is also no recommended daily intake of silica for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, due to the unknown effects on the child.

Other warnings

Inhaled silica dust can cause silicosis, which is a lung condition that causes inflammation and scarring (fibrosis) of the lungs. People who work in industry who may be exposed to silica dust are the only people who are at risk of silicosis.

Toxic Levels of Silica

Silica is toxic at doses greater than 100mg.

Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not take silica supplements due to the unknown effect on the unborn foetus and young infant

Overdosage and Toxicity Symptoms

If silica supplements that are much higher than the tolerable upper limit are taken, then they can cause the following toxicity symptoms:

  • Bruising
  • Silicosis
  • Skin rash
  • Stomach irritation

People experiencing any of the above toxicity symptoms should discontinue their silica supplements and seek medical advice.

Overdosage and toxicity is more likely to occur from taking too many supplements, whereas dietary intake of silica is highly unlikely to cause overdosage.

Silicosis

Silicosis is a health condition that occurs when silica dust particles are inhaled. It causes an inflammation and scarring of the lungs, which causes fibrosis of the lungs. The silica dust enters the lungs and irritates them continuously and reduces the capacity of the lung, as silica does not dissolve over time. This condition can be a health hazard for people working with sandblasting equipment and who do not wear protective head gear.

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