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TIL: The DO NOT EAT warnings on silica gel are about choking rather than poison (azpoison.com)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I always assumed since it was a desiccant it might dry up my insides and kill me, but it seems like that’s not the case.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Here's a fun one: silica gel is also used as a pesticide by exterminators. Say you have an infestation of wasps in your roof and they're getting inside the house. The exterminator will fire a blast of dried silica powder into an open point in the roof, and the silica dries out the nest of wasps. They become instant mummies.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Another fun fact: You can use it yourself. Just spread it on the floor where you have a bug infestation and it'll kill them. It's harmless if you don't ingest it (in fact, I believe there's even some that's food grade).

If you have bedbugs, you can surround your bed with it, and it's really effective. It also takes out cockroaches, I believe.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

in fact, I believe there’s even some that’s food grade

Yes. Mostly used as anti-caking agent.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

there's a silica supplement in my cabinet. it's supposed to do similar things to biotin