Environmental, Toxicity, and Sustainability Considerations

Numerous other suppliers exist in the Asia-Pacific region and other European countries. 

GCC grades available for plastics are classified based on their particle size distribution (psd) and type of surface treatments. Ultrafine grades have a median particle size of about 0.7-2 pm. Fine grades are between 3 and 7 pm and surface treated have median particle size (based on untreated material) ranging from 1 to 3 pm [9]. Grades of different particle sizes are recommended depending on the polymer, the intended application, and the fabrication method. PCC grades can be submicron in median particle size. 

World production is almost equally split between Europe/North America and Asia-Pacific where production is dominated by China and Japan [8]. As mentioned earlier two large companies, Omya and Imerys, with worldwide operations are the major producers accounting for a significant proportion of the global supply. A number of other medium sized suppliers have operations in more than one country. Over the years there has been a considerable consolidation of both producers and consumers of GCC and this trend is expected to continue. 

Calcium carbonate is generally regarded as safe (GRAS) without any known occupational diseases associated with its handling. It is nontoxic, nonhazardous and most grades meet United States FDA codes. The United States OS HA regulates the substance under the generic total particulate limit of 15 mg/m. Specific exposure 

Further details on environmental/toxidty considerations can be found in suppliers Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS). 

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