Sure, that can kill a few of them, but entirely inadequate for actually getting rid of any real infestation. They breed much more quickly than the diatomaceous earth can kill, and can survive on the order of months without any feeding so you can never be sure to have killed them all with a passive approach that just waits for them to come out and kill themselves.

Have you ever worked with diatomaceous earth? I have.

1. It's fine and goes everywhere. Breathing it is especially ill-advised.

2. The first light breeze, mammal to walk by or light misting of rain will wipe it away.

Giving yourself silicosis in the process of not actually killing them.

One of my former roommates got bed bugs that were living in the wall from either the neighbor or a previous tenant. Only insecticides are going to solve that problem, not some holistic, "negative ions" (radioactive thorium) panacea snake oil.