I recently dealt with a gnat issue after using a bad bag of Miracle Grow. I bought food-grade diatomaceous earth (DE) since that's the go-to recommendation. I sprinkled it on the soil of my plants and, in an amateur move, I blew on the DE and soil to try and get the gnats to fly up and make contact with it. It only hit me later to check if that was a dangerous thing to do. Now I'm a bit panicked—am I going to be okay?
3 Answers
Don’t worry too much about it! One exposure like that isn’t going to cause any significant health problems. But yeah, avoid doing that again in the future. For dealing with gnats, you might find using Gnatrol or Mosquito Bits along with Gnat Tape to be a safer and effective option. Plus, DE mixed with water can be a good treatment for other pests when used correctly.
Hey, one-time exposure isn't the end of the world. Just keep in mind that breathing in silica regularly can be harmful over time. So, be careful in the future!
You're definitely fine! Just try to remember to wear a mask the next time you handle DE. Your lungs will appreciate it, for sure!