Respiratory risks in sand

[LlamacornBob]

Some people buy reptisand for their hamsters because it's safe and sanitized, but I think people seem to neglect the other risks sand can carry. When I bought some reptisand I noticed that when some spilled out it was so fine that some of it looked almost like thick red dust, which could be the reason for its softness, but the problem is further than just this brand, Here's a question, isn't sand already too fine? one may argue that if your sand isn't too fine it would be okay, but this is sand, it's ground-up there's bound to be dust not to mention if the grains are too big it won't clean their fur well and they wouldn't like their sand bath as much. I firmly believe that hamsters need sand, but don't you think you need to choose more wisely? is fine sand alright if it isn't like powder? or is there something about the sand's properties that make the dust it may contain not as harmful as it could be?