Bentonite Toxicity

Bentonite is a ground naturally occurring clay. It is inorganic, non-toxic, non-irritating. As a natural clay product it contains many trace elements. It also contains free quartz and thus has similar hazards to ball clay. While the aluminum silicate bentonite particles are much smaller those of ball clay, it is difficult to say whether this is also true of the quartz particles associated with them (it is the quartz particles that present the hazard).

However, an important factor to consider is that bentonite is normally employed in very small amounts in glaze and clay body mixes (typically less than 5%). But we must also remember that because it is finer it is also more likely to become airborne.

Out Bound Links

• (Hazards) Ball Clay
  Hazards of using ball clays in ceramics.

In Bound Links

• (Materials) Bentonite

  Montmorillonite