Doctors: What's the deal with Bone Dust?

[Travis L. Stevens]

Okay, I've heard stories on TV about bone dust being lethal. Of course, it was on TV, but I bet they got it from something in real life. So, what is the whole truth behind this? Is it just human bone, or can it be any bone? What is the chemical compound of bone? Calcium what?

[Bebo77]

why.. who do you plan on spraying with bone dust... lol ... jk

[Travis L. Stevens]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9574434#post9574434 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Bebo77
why.. who do you plan on spraying with bone dust... lol ... jk

Har har har. I just have a something I need to dispose of.... ;) ;)

[mstewart]

I would love to know the original context but I'll take a first pass at this for you.

To the best of my knowledge, there is nothing about healthy ground bone or marrow that should be fatal if inhaled. Many ancient cultures ground down dried bones for tool making. I know of no evidence to suggest this harmed them, but of course it would be hard for us to tell.

Now, there are many organic proteins mixed with calcium and phosphate, so it is conceivable that some individual could have an immediate allergic reaction that could prove so severe as to be fatal.

A quick google search does turn up concerns about orthopedists who have an occupational exposure to the dust from grinding live bones during surgery. In theory, this could be a source for the transmission of viral diseases. (ie HIV etc.)

And the last thing I can think of is in working with mummified bodies there are well known cases of lethal molds, mycobacteria and bacteria which can be transmitted to the examiners. This isn't exactly bone dust, but suppose there is some of that too.

HTH
Michael J. Stewart, M.D.

[rustybucket145]

I use bone meal (which is pretty dusty) as a main fertilizer in my veggie garden. I'm going 100% organic this year! Did half the garden last year organic and the taste/quality was much better on the organic side than the side with regular chemical ferts.

Bone meal, blood meal, fish emulsion, peat, mushroom compost...to name a few...

So.... if bone dust is lethal it dang sure didn't kill me when I was spreading it out this year and last year......? And I know I got a few good inhales of it. :D

[Hobster]

It sure isn't hurting that Dr Bones on TV Bones.:D

[moonpod]

bong talk--there is something about meat processing workers developing allergies to cow bone dust, but as for the rest...beats me.

[griss]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9574866#post9574866 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by moonpod
bong talk
When did this thread take that turn???:D

[Travis L. Stevens]

That sums it up for me. There is no harm in direct bone dust contact/inhalation, but this

And the last thing I can think of is in working with mummified bodies there are well known cases of lethal molds, mycobacteria and bacteria which can be transmitted to the examiners. This isn't exactly bone dust, but suppose there is some of that too.

[vonodie1]

If there were actually a problem with bone dust, I would think that they would not do cremation and give the remains to the family.

I am not sure, but that is what I think.

[TheBimbo]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9574514#post9574514 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Travis L. Stevens
Har har har. I just have a somebody I need to dispose of.... ;) ;)


Well how about that !!!



Christy...:eek:

[Vitaly]

To develop on the "context" question posed by <B>mstewart</B> one of my anatomy professors believes it has to do with more recent technologies during autopsy. As you said bone was ground up by hand centuries ago and there is no evidence that it was toxic.

However, today's saws (band, oscillating, etc) are able to produce and aerosolize fine particles that have been shown to stay in suspension for hours. It was suggested that the health risk of bone dust was in the chemical preservatives/fixatives/embalming agents becoming aerosolized and entering the airways and leading to subsequent disease; such as lung cancer.

When I was in anatomy I was assigned the task of removing a ribcage. That was the only time that I was instructed to wear a goggles and a facemask.

[Satori]

Isn't that what they used to turn people into zombies in "The Serpent and the Rainbow"?

[OrangeKoi]

Ah, here's something you might like to know...Bones burned with minerals used to be used to make white paint. It was toxic paint so they switched the recipe. I believe they still use the bones for the really good stuff though.

[Vitaly]

<B>MSM</B>, I believe the agent that was in "Serpent" was D-tubocurarine; also called Curare for short.

Tubocurarine from Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tubocurarine

[Travis L. Stevens]

Well, the deal is after hearing rumor that bone dust could be harmful from the TV (I don't even remember where I heard it), I just dismissed it. After laying in bed one night thinking about the hazards of marine aquariums for a project I was doing, I remembered that little tidbit of bone dust and was comparing it to the dust that might be flung up from cutting into the skeleton of a coral or the rock that it might be on. After all, they are both bone-like calcium based structures. Maybe there was something that I didn't know. But if the calcium dust isn't toxic, that's fine. But as mstewart mentioned, other things can ride the dust such as toxins, bacteria, and diseases. This might have some validity after all.