- Nov 28, 2020
- 253
- Pool Size
- 15600
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
I bought a 24 lbs box of Clorox brand DE for pool filters at Lowes. I've read the How To thread about adding DE to a sand filter and have a few questions about toxicity and use.
I've read a bit about the carcinogenic risk. Unless I'm missing something, it seems cancer risk is only related to inhalation, with the potential for skin and eye irritation. Referencing this article and material safety data sheet for a similar brand here: National Pesticide Information Center and Material Safety Data Sheet
The back of the box has a warning: this product can expose you to crystalline silica, which is known to the state of California to cause cancer. Not to start a political conversation, but is it not known to other states to cause cancer? My question regarding this is whether the State of California, having more stringent safety measures than other states, is being overly reactive, or is this something to take seriously?
With that in mind, the packaging is very awkward. The DE is in a giant paper bag inside a giant box with no way to easily open it without runaway tears in the paper bag, no way to scoop it out without spilling a bunch on the ground, and no way to seal it once its open (seems it should be in smaller, resealable plastic bags or a plastic drum, if its a carcinogen that can cause lung disease form airborne particulate). Is this ok to store in my garage as is, or am I exposing myself to the potential of longterm pulmonary risk unless I find a better container to store it?
Regarding the application, I found that a little over two cups was the amount to raise my filter pressure by 1 psi (from 18psi to19psi). Recommendation and directions say to do this after backwash. So, when I backwash does that flush out the DE in the filter and that is why its time to add more? If not, is there a point where there is too much DE in my filter that I should be aware of? This box should last me for years.
This morning I backwashed and added the DE. So of course, we had a rain event that overtopped my pool and had to backwash again to bring the water level down. Wondering if I flushed out what I had added. If so I can add more later this week after all the rain is gone.
I've read a bit about the carcinogenic risk. Unless I'm missing something, it seems cancer risk is only related to inhalation, with the potential for skin and eye irritation. Referencing this article and material safety data sheet for a similar brand here: National Pesticide Information Center and Material Safety Data Sheet
The back of the box has a warning: this product can expose you to crystalline silica, which is known to the state of California to cause cancer. Not to start a political conversation, but is it not known to other states to cause cancer? My question regarding this is whether the State of California, having more stringent safety measures than other states, is being overly reactive, or is this something to take seriously?
With that in mind, the packaging is very awkward. The DE is in a giant paper bag inside a giant box with no way to easily open it without runaway tears in the paper bag, no way to scoop it out without spilling a bunch on the ground, and no way to seal it once its open (seems it should be in smaller, resealable plastic bags or a plastic drum, if its a carcinogen that can cause lung disease form airborne particulate). Is this ok to store in my garage as is, or am I exposing myself to the potential of longterm pulmonary risk unless I find a better container to store it?
Regarding the application, I found that a little over two cups was the amount to raise my filter pressure by 1 psi (from 18psi to19psi). Recommendation and directions say to do this after backwash. So, when I backwash does that flush out the DE in the filter and that is why its time to add more? If not, is there a point where there is too much DE in my filter that I should be aware of? This box should last me for years.
This morning I backwashed and added the DE. So of course, we had a rain event that overtopped my pool and had to backwash again to bring the water level down. Wondering if I flushed out what I had added. If so I can add more later this week after all the rain is gone.
