National Diatomaceous Earth Day – August 31, 2024

History of National Diatomaceous Earth Day

Though diatomaceous earth is used in our household, many are unaware of what it is. Diatomaceous earth is created from ‘diatoms,’ microalgae with a single cell. These diatoms are crucial for our planet as they are responsible for about 75% of the world’s oxygen, and there is more to its uses. After they die, they fall into the bottom of the water, and all that is left is their opal skeletons known as frustules. These frustules go on to form diatomaceous earth. D.E. is found in a sedimentary rock formation that can crumble easily into a white or off-white powder. While diatomaceous earth is formed today and can be found in various countries, including the United States, Chile, Peru, and China. It is known to have existed for centuries. And yes, it was used by people in ancient times too! For instance, ancient Greeks used diatomaceous earth as an abrasive and as a building material for bricks. They used D.E. without really identifying what it was or how it originated. In prehistoric times, diatomite was used in the ice-age cave paintings in France.

The real discovery was made in 1836 in Germany when Peter Kasten discovered it while he was sinking a well. He studied D.E. and noticed that it could absorb, filtrate, polish, and stabilize. In its properties, he found a product that many industries would soon invest millions to retrieve. Owing to the importance of D.E., EP Minerals, a leading company in diatomaceous earth, declared August 31 National Diatomaceous Earth Day in 2016.