From:
"Sukie Crandall"
Date: 2006-11-29 21:12:02 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: safe potting soil for dig box?
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Here's a question: does either perlite or the dust of perlite in soil mixes pose a risk to
them if inhaled or ingested?
>Perlite is an amorphous volcanic glass that has a relatively high water content.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perlite
Okay, not ferret but possibly something that could be generalized:
BEGIN QUOTE
J Pharmacol Methods. 1983 May;9(3):209-17. Links
A small animal model study of perlite and fir bark dust on guinea pig lungs.
McMichael RF,
DiPalma JR,
Blumenstein R,
Amenta PS,
Freedman AP,
Barbieri EJ.
Fir bark (Abies) and perlite (noncrystalline silicate) dusts have been reported to cause
pulmonary disease in humans. Guinea pigs were exposed to either fir bark or perlite dust
in a special chamber. Severe pathologic changes occurred in the lungs, consisting of
lymphoid aggregated and a perivascular inflammatory response. Both dusts caused similar
changes although one was vegetable (fir bark) and the other mineral (perlite). Fir bark and
perlite dust appeared to be more than just nuisance dusts.
PMID: 6308352 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
END QUOTE
but perhaps not given this (also not ferret -- this one is human):
http://www.healthcouncil.nl/pdf.php?ID=788&p=1
There do NOT appear to be any ferret or mustelid studies on this question, so make your
own best guesses based on discussing the various factors of potting soil with your own
vet.
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
mailto:ferrethealth-digest@yahoogroups.com
mailto:ferrethealth-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ferrethealth-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/