Diatomaceous earth

mod hazard

Also: DE, fossil shell flour

PestFoodGarden

A mechanical insecticide: microscopic sharp dust that scratches insects’ waxy coats. It is not a poison in the chemical sense, but the dust is hard on lungs — yours included.

Shelf life: Indefinite
Container: Sealed tub. Dust is the hazard, not spoilage.
Grade: FOOD GRADE only for grain and home use. Pool DE is a different, sharper silica — do not breathe it, do not put it on food.

What it does

▸Protects dry beans and grain when mixed at labeled food-grade rates
▸Crawling-insect barrier in dry cracks
▸Garden dust on some pests (reapply after rain)

Store

▸Dry. Label FOOD GRADE in large letters.

Hazards

▸Inhalation hazard. P100 when pouring.
▸Pool-filter DE can contain crystalline silica — not for the pantry.

Never mix

No listed pairing among the den compounds.

Gear

P100 respirator · Goggles when pouring

In the field

Grain: a light, even coat in dry grain, not a paste. DE fails when wet.

Arizona note

Works best bone-dry — our default climate, except monsoon weeks.

Source

Garden or brewing suppliers marked food grade. Never the swimming-pool bag.