Side Effects of Silica Gel Desiccant

Silica gel is a desiccant. Normally we are considering silica gel as an inactive substance. Tiny packets of silica gel are familiar to everyone. When we are purchasing new shoes or laptops, along with the product, inside the boxes we can see small sachets of silica gel. the purpose of this is to absorb excess moisture from the surroundings of the product to keep it fresh.

Desiccant

All the types of desiccants have the amorphous nature, silica gel is also not different. Always we can see the packets of silica it is mentioned as "Do not eat".  As we know it is an inactive chemical, it will not work with any other substances. However, consuming silica gel is not good for our health.

Silica gel can easily enter the respiratory system of Humans because of its amorphous structure. It can make a lot of effects. It can lead to silicosis, bronchitis, or cancer If we are inhaling crystalline silica dust for a long time. The dust might be lodged in the lungs and continuously irritates them, reducing lung capacities.

Researches show inhaling crystalline silica gel dust can reduce the immunity of the employees who are exposed to it for long years. The employees with exposure to crystalline silica shown 10 fold higher than others of lupus and other systemic autoimmune diseases. Crystalline silica particles will not dissolve in the body over clinically relevant periods.

Once the silica gel crystals entered into the lungs, inside macrophages and dendritic cells it can activate the NLRP3 inflammation, and thereby result in the processing of pro-interleukin 1 beta into its mature form. As interleukin-1 Is a highly pro-inflammatory cytokine in the immune system, chronic exposure to silica may thereby account for some of its health hazards.

This effect can create difficulties for people working with sandblasting equipment, products that contain powdered crystalline silica desiccant, and so on. Children, asthmatics of any age, allergy sufferers, and the elderly can be affected in much less time. Amorphous silica, such as fumed silica is not associated with the development of silicosis but may cause irreversible lung damage in some cases.