Have you looked into using River Sand?

[Chesterspal]

I have been using play sand sourced from the home improvement store for my hamster's sand box. He spends a great deal of time in there each evening and early mornings.

I washed it 3 or 4 times and I baked it for at least an hour. However, I still noticed that when pouring from one container into another there was a good deal of sand dust kicking up.

That has been bothering me a great deal since if my hamster is splashing around in it, he is also kicking up sand dust and, if follows, breathing it in.

Sand (or silica which is what it is) dust is deadly. Once in the lungs it is there forever.

In humans... they call it silicosis... and there is no cure.

So, I have been on a quest for something better and the idea of testing river sand came to mind. I knew of a spot near the Connecticut River, where the boats launch, where I could easily scoop up a small bucket of the fine sand that the river has been washing over and over for ages.

I washed it 3 or 4 times and I baked it for at least an hour. Then, I strained it several times.

No dust at all. None!

I have now switched to using river sand.