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STC PROGRAM Update
Spring 2003
Diatomaceous Earth in Land
and Water
Recently we have received a number of questions
about the safety of using diatomaceous earth in the classroom. Be assured that
the diatomaceous earth in
Land and Water, which is used in the
fourth-grade unit to provide a crisper and sturdier streambed, is safe.
We recommend that teachers prepare the lesson's
diatomaceous earth in a ventilated room while students are not present.
Specific safety tips for the substance are found in the Teacher’s Guide.
Examples include recommendations to limit dust of the fine, dry powder. We
encourage you to open the bag of diatomaceous earth the night before, to wet
the material before usage, and to wear a dust mask and plastic gloves, both
provided in the kit of materials.
The National Science Resources Center and Carolina
Biological Supply Company worked together to select the most appropriate
material for every STC® activity. However, if you still have a concern, an
alternative is to add extra sand to the stream table in place of the
diatomaceous earth. All-purpose sand is a material used in Land and
Water. However, substituting sand for diatomaceous earth makes it
a little more difficult to observe erosion and the subsequent formation of
channels in the students’ stream tables.
Included in every Land and Water kit is a
Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for diatomaceous earth. An MSDS outlines
any known health or safety hazards associated with a substance and explains
how the material can be safely handled, used, and stored.
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