What is Silver and its Uses?
Silver is a lustrous, soft white metal that is one of the elements naturally present in the earth’s crust. It is found in nature both as a pure metal and in combination with other elements such as sulfide, chloride, and nitrate. Pure silver has a bright metallic white-gray color and is stable in pure air and water but tarnishes quickly when exposed to air with elevated levels of ozone, hydrogen sulfide, or sulfur.
This rare metal has been highly valued for its versatility and beauty. Silver is commonly crafted into fine jewelry and silverware, prized for its aesthetic appeal. Beyond adornment, silver plays a crucial role in various industrial applications. It is used in the production of equipment that processes foods and beverages, and as a coating for mirrors due to its excellent reflective properties. Silver’s antibacterial qualities also make it a key component in medical devices and water purification systems.
The Risks of Heavy Metals
Heavy metals pose significant risks to human health and the environment. Exposure to heavy metals can occur through various routes, including inhalation, ingestion, and dermal contact. The risks associated with heavy metal exposure depend on the type of metal, its chemical form, and the duration and level of exposure. Some heavy metals, such as lead, mercury, and arsenic, are highly toxic and can cause severe health problems, including neurological damage, kidney damage, and cancer. Other heavy metals, such as cadmium and chromium, can also cause health problems, including kidney damage and respiratory problems.
Silver in the Human Body
Human bodies do not require silver as it is not an essential element and does not fulfill any physiological or biochemical role in any tissue. However, trace amounts of silver are present in the bodies of all humans and animals. The human body can absorb silver through food, drink, and inhalation, and it is readily absorbed into the body. Silver exists as an ion in the body and can interact with several essential elements, including zinc and calcium. The body has efficient methods of dealing with silver intake, with over 99% being readily excreted from the body.
Silver Nitrate and Other Silver Compounds
Silver nitrate is a highly toxic silver compound that can cause severe health problems, including burns, eye damage, and respiratory problems. Other silver compounds, such as silver chloride and silver sulfide, can also cause health problems, including skin irritation and respiratory problems. Silver oxide is a less toxic silver compound that is often used in medical applications, such as wound dressings and implantable devices. However, even silver oxide can cause health problems if it is not used properly.
Who is at Risk of Silver Toxicity?
People who work with silver or silver compounds, such as miners, smelters, and manufacturers, are at risk of silver toxicity. People who live in areas with high levels of silver pollution, such as near silver mines or smelters, are also at risk. Additionally, people who use silver-containing products, such as silver jewelry or silver-coated medical devices, may be at risk of silver toxicity if they are not used properly.
Do you have Silver Toxicity?
Silver toxicity can occur through occupational exposure, such as in factories where silver is manufactured into electrical or photography equipment. Others who may be exposed to elevated levels of silver include those who work with silver in melting, casting, grinding, polishing, or etching operations. Factory workers who inhale or ingest silver fumes or dust to the point of experiencing symptoms such as skin or eye irritation or discoloration, irritation of the stomach, mucous membranes, or upper respiratory tract are at risk. Prolonged exposure to silver dust or silver compounds can result in a permanent blue-gray staining of the eyes, nose, mouth, throat, and skin, known as argyria.
Do you have silver exposure toxicity?
People often wonder is silver a toxic heavy metal, while silver is not classed as a “heavy metal” it is a metal and yes you can become toxic from it. Silver is capable of causing you serious health problems and toxicity of silver is becoming wide-spread through its numerous uses in society. Silver toxicity is not commonly considered as a problem and is often overlooked as being the cause of illness or disease due to its use as an antibacterial agent and it’s medicinal claims. Silver, like gold and platinum are considered “inert” meaning that they do not corrode or seep but this is simply not true, silver does in fact seep, leach and ends up in your body.
Heavy metal pollution, including contamination caused by silver, is a growing environmental concern. The increasing public health issues associated with the toxicity of heavy metals highlight the need for awareness about their sources, such as industrial processes and agricultural practices, and their effects on human health and the environment.
Silver is however a toxic metal to humans capable of causing hemorrhage, bone marrow suppression (lowering immunity), pulmonary edema (fluid on the lungs caused by congestive heart failure), Hepatorenal syndrome (a life-threatening medical condition that consists of rapid deterioration in kidney function in individuals with cirrhosis or fulminant liver failure) and argyria (blue-grey discoloration of skin, nails, mucosae).
Silver is found in most water filters, it is used in some metal tooth amalgam fillings, some silver utensils(silverware), jewelry, coins, cloths and many other applications. The question is are you toxic with silver?
Silver toxicity symptoms
Silver can cause some serious health problems, here are some of the more prominent symptoms:
Hemorrhage (decrease in blood clotting thrombocytes)
Bone marrow suppression (lowering immunity)
Immune system dysfunction (decrease of leukocytes)
Lowered ability to carry oxygen in your blood (decrease of erythrocytes)
Pulmonary edema (fluid on the lungs caused by congestive heart failure)
Hepatorenal syndrome (a life-threatening medical condition that consists of rapid deterioration in kidney function in individuals with cirrhosis or fulminant liver failure)
Argyria (blue-grey discoloration of skin, nails, mucosa).
Infertility (Silver is attracted to the uterus and disrupts female hormones)
Kidney damage
Gastrointestinal damage
Irritation of eyes
Damage to essential gut flora
Easy bruising
IBS (Irritable bowel syndrome)
These symptoms are indicative of heavy metal poisoning, which can have severe health consequences if not addressed.
The danger of silver heavy metal poisoning
The problems with consuming excess silver apart from the obvious symptoms is how silver can affect major organs, this metal is capable of doing serious damage, here are some examples:
The impact of silver toxicity on human health can be profound, affecting various organ systems and overall well-being. Similar to the dangers of silver toxicity, lead poisoning poses significant health risks, primarily caused by exposure to lead through contaminated dust, soil, and deteriorating household paints.
Silver is used as an antibacterial agent in many products we use everyday, one of the important aspects of this is that humans need certain good bacteria’s to stay healthy and while we consume and or have silver toxicity we are constantly killing our good bacteria stores & damaging our vitamin K production in the intestines, this is a big problem.
Gastrointestinal damage from the loss of good gut bacteria leads to leaky gut syndrome, this often then leads to a host of health problems such as allergies & in-sensitivities, nutritional imbalances, syndrome X and auto immune disease
Taking probiotics such as acidophilus and or vitamin K supplements has no effect on improving your good bacteria in the gut while you are toxic with silver. People who have gastrointestinal disorders such as leaky gut, IBS (Irritable bowel syndrome) & Coeliac disease should test for silver toxicity.
Silver also affects fertility in women, silver is attracted to the uterus where it can disrupt female hormones preventing pregnancy and causing a host of female hormone related heath problems, click here to learn more.
Environmental Occurrence and Exposure
Silver, including metallic silver, is widely distributed in the earth’s crust and is found in soil, fresh and sea water, and the air. It is readily absorbed into the human body with food and drink and through inhalation. Silver can also gain entry into the body through the use of acupuncture needles, catheters, dental amalgams, or accidental puncture wounds. Silver has been employed in water purification and is currently used to safeguard hospital hot water systems against Legionella infections. Argyria is the most widely publicized clinical condition associated with silver accumulation in blood and soft tissues. The most common health effects associated with prolonged exposure to silver are the development of a characteristic, irreversible pigmentation of the skin (argyria) and/or the eyes (argyrosis) and commonly occurs in individuals exposed to high levels of silver occupationally (metallurgy, photography, and mining industries), or consuming or inhaling silver hygiene products (including colloidal silver products) for long periods.
Government Standards and Guidelines
Government agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), have established standards and guidelines for silver exposure. The EPA has set a maximum allowable level of silver in drinking water, and OSHA has established permissible exposure limits for silver in the workplace. Additionally, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has established recommended exposure limits for silver.
Silver Toxicity & Genetics
Research has shown that genetic factors can play a role in silver toxicity. Some people may be more susceptible to silver toxicity due to genetic variations that affect the body’s ability to metabolize silver. For example, people with a genetic variation that affects the enzyme responsible for metabolizing silver may be more likely to experience silver toxicity. Additionally, people with certain medical conditions, such as kidney disease, may be more susceptible to silver toxicity due to their underlying health condition.
Silver Toxicity & Genetics
genetically predisposed to silver toxicity, this is because certain genes belonging to liver detoxification pathways that normally deal with silver detoxification have been deleted, in these cases can confirm and a specialized nutritional program can help the individual detoxify silver.
Genetic predispositions can exacerbate the production of reactive oxygen species, leading to increased oxidative stress and cellular damage.
Do you have silver toxicity?
The best way to find out if you have toxic levels of silver and or if you’re at risk from silver related disease is by a , this simple home test shows if you are toxic and guidance can be given to how to detoxify the silver in your situation as everyone is different.
Testing for silver exposure is crucial to determine if you have toxic levels of silver in your body.
Detoxification of silver compounds
Often people attempt to detoxify silver without knowing if they have toxicity and without knowing the best ways to achieve results. Many heavy metal detoxification supplements on the market do not work and often contain toxic heavy metals themselves.
Proper detoxification methods are essential to effectively remove toxic metals from the body. Silver is a very toxic metal and each person who has been exposed to the metal is affected in different ways, this can cause detoxification problems.
Have any questions about silver toxicity & treatments?