Wat happens if you eat silica?

Question

i was wondering because it always says do not eat

Answer 1

It depends on the size, silica is glass too, large sharp pieces can cut your innards

Answer 2

Can't be good.  Says "do not eat" on the bag

Answer 3

Silica is sand

If it is finely ground - 200 mesh or better - it is nasty in the lungs and there is a chance some would be breathed into the lungs or carried with mucus which can result in silicosis and loss of lung function.

Answer 4

likely, nothing.

Answer 5

Probably nothing. Not to sound gross or anything but, whatever goes in has to come out.

Answer 6

Silica gel is a desiccant, so that means if you eat large amounts it will absorb the water you have in your system and dehydrate you, but it would take a huge amount of it to do that and by the time you ate enough for that to be a problem, you'd probably be suffering from an intestinal blockage like if you ate a bunch of gravel or something. The silica itself is inert an will pass through you unchanged like very fine sand would.

BUT...

The packets also often contain Cobalt Chloride which is proven to cause cancer, Silica dust can cause Silicosis and other serious respitory problems, and it absorbs and holds other substances so it could have absorbed any harmful liquids or fumes off of the product it was keeping dry.