Toxicity
A desiccant may be chosen for a particular task based not only on its effectiveness at drying, but also perhaps for any natural antibiotic, fungicidal, pesticidal, or virucidal effect, or for a lack of harmful effect on humans. For instance, table salt has a natural antibiotic and anti-fungal effect and is not harmful to humans when consumed in moderate quantities, and is thus commonly used as a drying agent in the preparation of dried foods.
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