Silica |
Last updated: 01/06/2024
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(Also known as: silox; constituent of diatomaceous earth; amorphous silica; crystalline silica) |
Silica is an inert, naturally occurring mineral used as a carrier in some pesticide products and is sometimes used as an insecticide to control crawling insects, acting via its abrasive and desiccant properties. It is moderately soluble in water and stable in the environment. It is generally considered non-toxic to biodiversity and humans. However, there are some concerns that exposure to crystalline silica particles that are small enough to reach the lungs can cause lung cancer. |
The following alerts are based on the data in the tables below. An absence of an alert does not imply the substance has no implications for human health, biodiversity or the environment but just that we do not have the data to form a judgement.
Environmental fate |
Ecotoxicity |
Human health |
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Inert mineral used as a carrier in some pesticide products and sometimes used as an insecticide to control crawling insects |
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Ticks; Mites; Bedbugs; Cockroaches; Moth larvae |
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Non-agricultural situations |
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- |
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- |
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Current |
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1956, silica gel first registered USA; 1960, silicon dioxide first registered US |
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- |
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Not approved |
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Not applicable |
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No UK approval for use |
EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414) |
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Not applicable - not a ppp. May be authorised at national level under different legislation |
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Not applicable |
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Not applicable |
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Not applicable |
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No |
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ATAustria |
BEBelgium |
BGBulgaria |
CYCyprus |
CZCzech Republic |
DEGermany |
DKDenmark |
EEEstonia |
ELGreece |
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ESSpain |
FIFinland |
FRFrance |
HRCroatia |
HUHungary |
IEIreland |
ITItaly |
LTLithuania |
LULuxembourg |
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LVLatvia |
MTMalta |
NLNetherlands |
PLPoland |
PTPortugal |
RORomania |
SESweden |
SISlovenia |
SKSlovakia |
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ISIceland |
NONorway |
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None |
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SiO₂ |
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O=[Si]=O |
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- |
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VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N |
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InChI=1S/O2Si/c1-3-2 |
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Yes |
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Insecticide, Acaricide, Other substance |
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Carrier |
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Inorganic compound |
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- |
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- |
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Natural |
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Inert but acts as an insecticide via its abrasive and desiccant physical properties |
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Silica is often found in nature in the form of quartz |
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It is produced from the raw quartz mineral and as a byproduct of Alumina Solution production |
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Non-agricultural pest control |
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Ticks; Mites; Bedbugs; Cockroaches; Moth larvae |
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Non-agricultural situations |
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Not normally used in agricultural production |
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7631-86-9 |
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231-545-4 |
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None allocated |
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072605 |
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24261 |
|
No data found |
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60.08 |
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- |
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dioxosilane |
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silicon dioxide |
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- |
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- |
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Not applicable |
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Not applicable |
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UNM |
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Not applicable |
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- |
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White powder |
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- |
- |
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A free flowing additive to powders, granules etc. |
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120 |
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source |
Moderate |
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- |
- |
- |
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1610 |
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- |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
- |
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- |
- |
- |
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2.2 |
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source |
- |
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- |
- |
- |
- |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
- |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
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730 |
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source |
Very persistent |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
- |
- |
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Literature states that the substance is stable in soil |
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- |
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- |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
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Stable |
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source |
Stable |
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- |
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Stable |
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source |
Stable |
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- |
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Stable |
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source |
Stable |
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Stable |
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source |
Stable |
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As this parameter is not normally measured directly, a surrogate measure is used: ‘Photochemical oxidative DT₅₀’. Where data is available, this can be found in the Fate Indices section below. |
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- |
Soil adsorption and mobility |
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None
Terrestrial ecotoxicology |
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5110 |
R3 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 3 = Unverified data of known source Rat |
Low |
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- |
- |
- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
- |
- |
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> 1000 |
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Danio rerio |
Low |
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> 1000 |
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Daphnia magna |
Low |
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- |
- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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440 |
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata |
Low |
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- |
- |
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- |
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- |
- |
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HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION |
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High (class III) |
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- |
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5110 |
R3 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 3 = Unverified data of known source Rat |
Low |
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5000 |
R3 R = Peer reviewed scientific publications 3 = Unverified data of known source Rabbit |
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2.2 |
Rat |
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None allocated |
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None allocated |
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0.3 |
as mg m³ (inhalation) |
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Public may become exposed via their diets but substance is relatively benign by this route |
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Serious risk to operators and other workers - PPE/PPC required |
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Carcinogen |
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Endocrine disruptor |
?Possibly, status not identified |
A0 A = Chromosome aberration (EFSA database) 0 = No data ; B0 B = DNA damage/repair (EFSA database) 0 = No data ; C0 C = Gene mutation (EFSA database) 0 = No data ; D0 D = Genome mutation (EFSA database) 0 = No data ; E0 E = Unspecified genotoxicity type (miscellaneous data source) 0 = No data |
XNo, known not to cause a problem |
Reproduction / development effects |
Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor |
Neurotoxicant |
XNo, known not to cause a problem |
XNo, known not to cause a problem |
XNo, known not to cause a problem |
Respiratory tract irritant |
Skin irritant |
Skin sensitiser |
✓Yes, known to cause a problem |
XNo, known not to cause a problem |
?Possibly, status not identified |
Eye irritant |
Phototoxicant |
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✓Yes, known to cause a problem |
No data found |
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Dust can cause silicosis and bronchitis May cause sensitization via inhalation US EPA have concluded that exposure to crystalline silica particles that are small enough to reach the lungs can cause lung cancer |
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Prevent generation of dust |
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Health: H315, H319, H332, H335} |
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Not listed (Not listed) |
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silica |
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silice cristalline |
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kristallenes Silikon |
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siliciumdioxid |
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silicone cristallino |
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silicona cristalina |
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- |
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krystaliczna krzemionka |
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Kiseldioxid |
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- |
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kristallijn kiezelzuur |
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- |
Record last updated: |
01/06/2024 |
Contact: |
aeru@herts.ac.uk |
Please cite as: |
Lewis, K.A., Tzilivakis, J., Warner, D. and Green, A. (2016) An international database for pesticide risk assessments and management. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 22(4), 1050-1064. DOI: 10.1080/10807039.2015.1133242 |