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Colloidal Silver Dangers

HEALTH HAZARDS OF COLLOIDAL SILVER AND ITS POSSIBLE BIOACCUMULATIVE THREAT TO THE ENVIRONMENT

Dr. Hildegarde Staninger™, RIET-1, Industrial Toxicologist/IH & Doctor of Integrative Medicine. Integrative Health Systems™, LLC, 415 3/4^th N. Larchmont Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90004 Tel: 323-466-2599 Fax: 323-466-2774.

Paper Presented at the 2010 National Registry of Environmental Professionals (NREP) Annual Conference, October 6 & 7, 2010, Dallas, Texas. © June 9, 2010

Abstract:

Ag, silver, is a white metal and is extremely ductile and malleable, insoluble in water but soluble in hot sulfuring and nitric acids. The metal has been used as an antimicrobial agent since antiquity. Current trends have used formulations as a colloidal agent for medicinal purposes to kill bacteria and assist in wound healing. The use of colloidal silver formulations are currently being used as a therapeutic or medicinal agent to reduce internal infections. These formulations are ingested and do not address the bio-accumulative effects of the silver or its metalloid in formulation. Many professionals and the public believe that colloidal silver materials will not show measurable levels of silver in biological specimens of urine and blood specimens as elemental silver. This paper addresses exposure to the internal ingestion of colloidal silver of two females and comparison values to two other females that did not ingest colloidal silver. All four individuals were exposed to thin film advanced nano composite materials. Measurable ranges of silver were <0.3 ng/ml and as high as 172 ng/ml serum blood levels.

Silver vs. Colloidal Silver (Silver Protein)

Ag, silver, is a white metal and is extremely ductile and malleable, insoluble in water but soluble in hot sulfuric and nitric acids. It is a semi-precious metal. Silver may be alloyed with copper, aluminum, cadmium, lead, or antimony; the alloys are used in the manufacture of silverware, jewelry, coins, ornaments, plates, commutators, scientific instruments, automobile bearings, and grids in storage batteries. Silver is used in chrome-nickel steels, in solders and brazing alloys, in the application of metallic films on glass and ceramics, to increase corrosion resistance to sulfuric acid in photographic films, plates and paper, as an electroplated undercoating for nickel and chrome, as a bactericide for sterilizing water, fruit juices, vinegar, etc., bus bars and windings in electrical plants. Silver is utilized in dental amalgams and as a chemical catalyst in the synthesis of aldehydes, because of its resistance to acetic and other food acids. It is utilized in the manufacture of pipes, valves, vats, pasteurizing coils and nozzles for the milk, vinegar, cider, brewing, and acetate rayon silk industries.¹ Fluxes containing fluoride are used with silver solder and present another hazard independent of silver or cadmium. Failure to realize that cadmium and fluoride are dangerous in silver solder has caused unrecognized pulmonary irritation, intense exposures cause pulmonary edema, and repeated exposures may result in irreversible damage to lung function.²

Silver compounds are used in photography, silver plating, inks, dyes, coloring glass and porcelain, etching ivory, in the manufacture of mirrors, and as analytical chemical reagents and catalysts. Some of the compounds are also of medical importance as antiseptics or astringents, and in the treatment of certain diseases, particularly in veterinary medicine.

Primary Harmful Effects of Silver
The only local effect from metallic silver derives from the implant of small particles in the skin of the worker (usually hands and fingers) which causes a permanent discoloration equivalent to the process of tattooing (local argyria). Silver nitrate dust and solutions are highly corrosive to the skin, eyes, and intestinal tract. The dust of silver nitrate may cause local irritation of the skin, burns of the conjunctiva, and blindness. Localized pigmentation of the skin and eyes may occur. The eye lesions are seen first in the caruncle, and then in the conjunctiva and cornea. The nasal septum and tonsillar pillars also are pigmented.

All forms of silver are extremely cumulative once they enter body tissues, and very little is excreted. Studies on the occurrence of argyria following injection of silver arsphenamine indicate that the onset of visible argyria begins at a total dose of about 0.9 grams of silver. Generalized argyria develops when silver oxide or salts are inhaled or possibly ingested by individuals who handle compounds of silver (nitrate, fulminate, and cyanide). The condition produces no constitutional symptoms, but it may lead to permanent pigmentation of the skin and eyes. The individual’s face, forehead, neck, hands and forearms develop a dark, slate-grey or bluish color uniform in distribution and varying in depth depending on the degree of exposure. Fingernails, buccal mucosa, toe nails, and covered parts of the body to a lesser degree, can also be affected by this discolorization process’s The dust is also deposited in the lungs and may be regarded as a form of pneumonoconiosis, although it carries no hazard of fibrosis unless it is reactive with other toxic substances of polymer composite composition.³ Animal studies of silver slats fed to animals have produced renal changes and vascular hypertension.⁴ Large doses given by vein caused hemolysis and death due to generalized congestion and pulmonary edema. Smaller doses caused an anemia with consequent bone marrow hyperplasia. As might be expected, retention of silver is greatest in the reticulo-endothelial system⁵. Silver excreted almost entirely in the feces. Kehoe et.al showed that such excretion prevents silver storage.⁶ Further studies illustrating intestinal malfunction and lack of good intestinal flora for enzyme utilization and function have shown silver will store in the body, just as any heavy metal.⁷

Silver does not occur regularly in animals or human tissue. The major effect of excess absorption of silver is local or generalized impregnation of the tissues where it remains, as silver sulfide, which forms an insoluble complex in elastic fibers, resulting in argyria. Silver can be absorbed from the lungs and gastrointestinal tract. Complexes with serum albumin accumulated in the liver, from which a fractional amount is excreted. Intravenous injection produces accumulation in the spleen, liver, bone marrow, lungs, muscle, and skin. The major route of excretion is via the gastrointestinal tract. Urinary excretion has not been reported in some cases.^8,9

Industrial argyria, a chronic occupational disease as previously described in this paper, has a generalized argyria, too. In this case the skin shows widespread pigmentation, often spreading from the face to most uncovered parts of the body. In some cases, the skin may become black, with a metallic luster. The eyes may be affected to such a point that the lens and vision are disturbed. The respiratory tract may also be affected in severe cases.

Large oral doses of silver nitrate cause severe gastrointestinal irritation owing to its caustic action. Lesions of the kidneys and lungs and the possibility of arteriosclerosis have been attributed to both industrial and medical exposures. Large doses of colloidal silver administered intravenously to experimental animals produced death due to pulmonary edema and congestion. Hemolysis and resulting bone marrow hyperplasia have been reported. Chronic bronchitis has also been reported in results from medicinal use of colloidal silver.^{10, 11}

Colloidal Silver (Silver Protein)
Colloidal silver products are one of three types of products being sold as “colloidal silver.”¹² These products are sometimes labeled as “silver protein” or “mild silver protein” – and some are simply labeled as “colloidal silver” or “micro particle silver water,” with no mention that the product contains a protein.

What is Silver Protein?
Silver protein is also known as ”mild silver protein,” that is made of metallic silver particles suspended in a polymer protein solution. While various polymer binders may be used, gelatin, an animal derived protein is one of the most commonly used. Gelatin is a natural long chain molecule of indefinite length (polymer). Other natural polymers, such as casein, which is derived from dairy products, are sometimes used. Natural protein polymers derived from grains may also be used. While synthetic polymers are technically not proteins, they are long chain molecules of indefinite length and will produce the same generic type results as protein polymer molecules when used as an additive with silver particles. Therefore, any product that uses a polymer additive as a “silver protein” type product because of the close similarities in the end result regardless of whether a synthetic or natural polymer is used.

True silver colloids have tiny particles whose size is measured in nanometers (nm), from about 1 to 100 nm (a nanometer is one one billionth of a meter). However, the particles in silver protein products are many times larger, typically being in the range of 100 to 10,000 nm – or up to 1,000 times larger than a typical silver colloid. The enormous size of these particles would normally cause such particles to fall to the bottom, rather than staying suspended in a colloidal form, were it not for the protein polymer molecules. Because protein molecules will cause these large silver particles to remain suspended, high silver concentrations are easy to produce. Concentrations of silver are expressed in parts per million (ppm). Values as high as 20,000 ppm are not uncommon in silver protein products.

Recent studies conducted by Staninger (2010) showed individuals who were exposed to advanced nano materials that were of thin film nano composite materials and exposed to colloidal silver could make silver protein as the colloidal silver materials would coat the surfaces of the cell membranes and interfere with the transportation of oxygen and carbon dioxide as carbon monoxide would bio-accumulate in peripheral blood.¹² Analysis of the colloidal silver composition revealed to be composed of 96% silver in composition.¹³

The advanced nano material composite was further identified to contain a coating of silane and /or siloxanes, which will decompose into silica, silicon, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide in the presence of oxygen.¹⁴

History of Individuals Utilizing Colloidal Silver as Oral Therapeutic
Four individuals were exposed to advanced nano materials that were from advanced nano thin film composite materials. Two of the females were given oral colloidal silver as a therapeutic therapy for exposure by their physician. The other two did not use any form of oral colloidal silver materials in their therapy. (See Table 1-1)

The two individuals who took oral colloidal silver were told by their physician to take 60 drops three times a day. The individuals took the product for 30 days prior to blood tests for silver exposure.¹⁵ One individual had previous diagnosis of polycystic liver and kidney disease. All participants had exposure to advanced nano materials. The individual with polycystic liver and kidney disease had initial silver blood value of 172 ng/ml after taking oral colloidal silver for 30 days. The other female individual who did not have any disease except for exposure to advanced nano materials had an blood serum value of 99 ng/ml after oral consumption of colloidal silver for 30 days. A comparison was made on two other individuals who had blood tests performed for silver levels, which revealed values of <0.3 ng/ml and 0.03 ng/ml respectively. The individual that did not smoke and did not take colloidal silver had a none detected value for carboxyhemoglobin (carbon monoxide).

All individuals were given specific toxicological mechanistic detoxification therapy which consisted of antioxidants, antioxidant network products, and non-invasive FIR Radiant Heat Therapy. A specific requirement was made for all 4 female individuals, which was to eat cilantro as a salad component or juice it with other fruits and vegetables in their favorite juicing recipe. In addition to cilantro, all individuals took orally 200 mg kelp three times a day and 15 to 20 tablets of standardized chlorella per day. Supplementation occurred after initial testing for silver in blood and throughout the next 55 days, when the second blood level was established.

Blood tests were performed approximately 55 days later as illustrated in Table 1-1. The individuals who took oral colloidal silver had the following values:

Polycystic Liver and Kidney disease, female 12 ng/ml

None Polycystic Liver and Kidney disease, female 5.3 ng/ml

All others < 0.3 or 0.3 ng/ml

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s acceptable value for silver in drinking water is 0.1 mg/l and the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Agency’s standard is 0.01 mg/m³ for breathing silver dust in the workplace air. The values of the initial and 55 day later serum levels for silver were above these regulated guideline levels. It is important to note that silver and any other heavy metal will be excreted from the body and will accumulate in municipal waste water systems, just as endocrine disrupters have been doing for the last decade. This statement is important to any environmentalist, because of the use of colloidal silver as a global therapeutic agent for antimicrobic activity alone. This will then result in an increase in silver values over time for our ground water, drinking water and other water tributaries; just as lead, cadmium, and mercury has accumulated in water sources for the last 50 years.

Conclusion
Colloidal silver and other related silver products have been known to have beneficial health benefits for infections and other similar health concerns. It is important to know the type of colloidal silver product one would use orally and for a specific short period of time. The presence of elemental silver at 172 ng/ml and 99 ng/ml were over an acceptable clinical reference range. Silver is not a natural occurring element of blood, urine or tissue in animals or humans. It is a heavy metal and will accumulate in target organs that have had physical disease or trauma as shown in this paper. The individual that did not smoke and did not use colloidal silver had below <0.3 ng/ml of silver within their blood. If silver protein is present or is created on the cell membrane the material will reduce the transportation of oxygen and the release of carbon dioxide from the membrane matrix. When advanced nano materials are coated with a chemical coating composed of silane and/or siloxane (for antimicrobial activity) and in the presence of colloidal silver – silver protein will form, which will then further complicate the detoxification process of the body from silver and increase blood levels of carbon monoxide values.

It is recommended that individuals, healthcare providers and physicians, who utilize colloidal silver as a therapeutic remedy for oral consumption establish a baseline blood, urine, hair and stool value for the presence of silver and monitor of internal over exposure as a rate of time. Silver will bio-accumulate in the feces, which will cause primarily gastrointestinal disorders over any length of time time. This result is primarily due to its antimicrobial activity upon the natural flora of the GI track.

If one uses any form of colloidal silver for any length of time, it is highly recommended to take periodic tests for elemental silver. New blood is formed within in 7 days, new tissue within 0 to 3 months; and new cartilage or bone within 3 to 6 months.¹⁵ By keeping these timelines in one’s mind, one will be able to address the length of time to recover from any exposure to heavy metal, hazardous materials, toxic substances and/or advanced nano materials.

TABLE1-1

Table of four females who had individual blood values established for internal exposure to silver. Two females had oral consumption of 60 drops of colloidal silver 3 times a day for 30 days, while the other two (controls) did not. All individuals were exposed to advanced nano materials that were of thin film composite materials and had tested positive for silane/siloxane decomposition products. Clinical analysis of serum blood levels was performed by Quest Diagnostic lab, Inc. in their California and New York facilities through February and April 2010 under agreements with Integrative Health Systems, LLC, Los Angeles, CA. Reference range for clinical levels of silver is 0.0 through 14 ng/ml.

(Table Key: CS – Colloidal Silver; CO- Carboxyhemoglobin)

Description Oral CS CO Blood, serum value 55 Days Retest CO

Female, age 35 yes 1.3% 172 ng/ml 12.0 ng/ml 1.4%

Polycystic Liver &

Kidney Disease

(Caucasian, smoker)

Female, age 62 yes 1.4% 99 ng/ml 5.3 ng/ml 1.9%

(Caucasian, non-smoker)

Female, age 37 no None <0.3 ng/ml <0.3 ng/ml None

(Asian, non-smoker)

Female, age 29 no 2% 0.3 ng/ml 0.3 ng/ml 2%

(Asian, smoker

REFERENCES

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Ligo. Occupational Diseases: A Guide to Their Recognition. U.S. Department of Health,

Education, and Welfare. CDC/NIOSH. US Governmental Printing Office, Washington,

2. Weir, F.W.: Health hazard from occupational exposure to metallic copper and silver

dust. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 1979: 40:245-247.

3. McLaughlin AIG, Grout, JLA, Barrie HG, et al: Iron Oxide dust and the lungs of silver

5. Shouse, S.S. and G.H. Whipple. Effects of intravenous injection of colloidal silver on

6. Kehoe, R.A., Cholak, J., and R.V. Storey. Manganese, lead, tin, aluminum, copper and

8. Amdur, Mary O., Doull, John, and Curtis D. Klaassen. Casserett and Doull’s

TOXICOLOGY: The Basic Science of Poisons, 4^th Edition. Pergamon Press. New York

9. Browning, E.: Toxicity of Industrial Metals, 2^nd Edition. Butterworths. London, England

10. Luckey, T. D., Venugopal, B. and D. Hutcheson. Heavy Metal Toxicity Safety and

1041.

12. Staninger, Hildegarde. IEIA Health Hazard Criteria Document: Silica, Silane and

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Colloidal Silver for presence of % total silver composition (Phase I).

of NS Colloidal Silver % total silver composition with another Colloidal Silver product

14. www.wikipedia.com Silane and Siloxane chemical decomposition materials.

15. Guyton, Arthur C. Textbook of Medical Physiology, 5^th Edition. W.B. Saunders

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