Is bead release harmful or not?

[bubblebabeuk]

So, is bead release harmful or not. I recall being taught how essential it is to remove bead release under water when I first started out, but a thread on another forum got me wondering is it actually harmful to breath in and if so why?

[Holly]

Bead release has silica in it. If breathe enough of it you can get a lung disease known as silicosis.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicosis

[berningglass]

sure it's harmful ,but so is the sun and the air we breath. i'd only be concerned if you're cleaning beads 8 hours a day, 5 days a week.

[hotflashwanda]

Well, I think breathing in silica dust is a little worse than the sun and air. I always clean beads wet.
Anita
www.nitabeads.com