IN DEFENCE OF IONIC COLLOIDAL SILVER
This hypothesis is posted at
http://www.health2us.com/transport.htm
and reads as follows:
Biologic Transport of Silver Ions!
Those that say silver ions complex with
stomach acid to produce mostly useless compounds, have not looked
at the big picture, of biologic ion transport!
Digestion and absorption begins
in the mouth!
Metallic ions, either free or disassociated
from dissolved soluble salts are both absorbed sublingually and/or
isolated by ligands in the saliva, usually metalloproteins. Metallothionein
(MT) is a relatively small molecule that binds heavy metals including
silver, cadmium, copper and zinc, and is made by most cells in our
body. Your saliva has over 200 different proteins and fully one
third of body proteins are metalloproteins ie. carrying metallic
ions. Thus, reactive ions (missing one or more electrons) can be
transported past the stomach and thru the circulatory system without
local reactions. Metal ion substitution permits even a zinc metalloprotein
to take up the silver ion and release the zinc ion. The free, ionized
zinc, which would be toxic if permitted to accumulate, binds to
a metal regulatory element on the promoter region of the metallothionein
gene and "turns on" the synthesis of more metallothionein.
Silver exporting ATPase Hydrolases:
Act on acid anhydrides, Catalysing trans-membrane movement
of substances! The ion pump mechanism utilizes energy from ATP to
force ions thru a cell membrane, verses the passive diffusion, in
which case the protein (on the cell) that allows this transport
is called an ion channel.
Proteins include: Enzymes,
Neuro-transmitters and some hormones, antibodies, ion channels,
receptor sites, etc.
The mammalian form of MT appears to have
the principal physiological role of providing a homeostatic function
for copper and zinc. They are able to distribute these metal ions
when required for the synthesis of metal-dependant cellular compounds.
They have been referred to as "metal transfer agents"
because of their role in depositing or removing (Ed: a specific
case) zinc from zinc-dependant proteins.
Metallothionein (MT) is a relatively small
molecule that binds heavy metals including silver, cadmium, copper
and zinc, and is made by most cells in our body. Its production
can be induced in the intestinal cells where it is thought to help
keep us from absorbing a lot of toxic heavy metals such as cadmium.
MT is also thought to be involved in the regulation of the cellular
concentration of the essential minerals copper and zinc. The lining
of our blood vessels is made up of a specific cell type called endothelial
cells. Whereas the intestinal cell is the first barrier to the absorption
of minerals, the endothelial cells are the secondary barrier to
getting minerals into our tissues and organs.
Cells are constantly pumping ions in and
out through their plasma membranes. In fact, more than half the
energy that our bodies consume is used by cells to drive the protein
pumps in the brain that do nothing else but transport ions across
plasma membranes of nerve cells. How can ions be transported across
membranes that are effectively impermeable to them? Cells contain
proteins that are embedded in the lipid bilayer of their plasma
membranes and extend from one side of the membrane through to the
other. Such transmembrane proteins can function to effect ion transport
in several ways.
As to the action
of silver in the body, while there may be some catalytic action,
silver ions will adhere to the sulphydral groups on bacterial cell
walls and thus compromise the action of enzymes and so on, silver
has also been found bonded to the DNA and RNA of bacterial cells,
having presumably disrupted the cell wall enough to gain entry.
Interestingly, it has also been found that if one removes the silver
bonded to the cell wall of bacteria, that the bacteria is able to
revive.
National Center for Environmental
Research, Office of Research and Development, U.S. EPA.
Stuart A. Batterman (1), Khalil H. Mancy
(1), Shuqin Wang (1), Lianzhong Zhang (1), James Warila (1), Ovadia
Lev (2), Hillel Shuval (2), Badri Fattal (2)
Environmental Health Sciences, University
of Michigan (1); Division of Environmental Science, Graduate School
of Applied Science and Technology, Hebrew University, Jerusalem,
Israel (2)
Keywords: drinking water, exposure,
risk, ecological effects, viruses, bacteria, pathogens.
Research Category: Drinking Water.
December 3, 2001.
This unchanged documentation has been
collated and edited by Stuart Thomson, Director, Gaia Research Institute
Objective(s) of the Research Project: The
objectives of the research address two critical issues associated
with the use of a new secondary disinfectant formulation utilizing
hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and silver (Ag+): (1)
the efficacy of the formulation to provide long-term residual disinfection,
including the control of coliform bacteria, bacterial regrowth,
and slime/biofilm control; and (2) the identification and quantification
of disinfection by-products (DBPs) that may result from interactions
with conventional chlorine- and oxidant-based disinfectants.
By combining two or more disinfection agents,
it may be possible to lower concentrations of each component, reduce
exposures, minimize the formation of toxic and undesirable DBPs,
and minimize the health risks associated with disinfection. The
approach is designed to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the
microbial disinfection efficiency and DBP formation potential of
the new disinfectant.
Progress Summary/Accomplishments:
The addition of the secondary disinfectant
following the use of chlorine as a primary disinfectant produces
very dramatic reductions in DBP formation (e.g., trihalomethanes
[THMs] and haloacetic acids [HAAs]), an effect due to the reduction
of chlorine to chloride by H2O2, which halts further reaction of
chlorine with dissolved organic matter and other DBP precursors.
When used with ozone, H2O2 also quenches formation of THMs and reduces,
though not as strongly, formation of inorganic byproducts (e.g.,
bromate).
The inactivation performance of the combined
disinfectant, its individual components, and a commercially available
stabilized formulation of H2O2 and Ag+ have been evaluated for several
bacteria and virus. Laboratory studies indicate that the combined
disinfectant exhibits a synergistic action on the viability of E.
coli, however, no increased virucidal action was observed. The H2O2
component induced a wide array of stress responses and bacteria
deficient in the ability to activate central cellular stress responses
and were hypersensitive to both H2O2 and Ag+.
These studies suggest that the combined
disinfectant may be appropriate for use as long-term secondary residual
disinfectant for relatively high quality water. Widespread use of
the combined disinfectant, if practical, might result in potential
for uptake in humans. Results suggest that risks are minimal under
all likely scenarios.
Executive Summary
Summary of Findings:
Disinfection Efficacy.
Investigations emphasized the inactivation performance of a combined
disinfectant comprised of hydrogen peroxide and silver or copper
ions for target indicator microorganisms in both high quality water
and for high total organic compound water (TOC = 6 mg/L). Die-off
kinetics were evaluated upon exposure to hydrogen peroxide, silver
or copper ions alone, and in combinations. Target or model organisms
included bacteria (Escherichia coli-B and Escherichia coli-K12),
bacteriophage (MS2), and a pathogenic virus (Polio 1).
The following key results were obtained:
- Bacterial Inactivation. The combination
of hydrogen peroxide and silver ions, rather than each one separately,
was the most effective in inactivating E. coli-B and E. coli-K12;
silver ions alone were more effective than hydrogen peroxide alone.
In general, the bacterial inactivation performance of the combined
disinfectant was slow compared to chlorine-based disinfectants
(e.g., 3-log reductions (99.9 percent) of E. coli-B at pH 7 and
24 C using 30-ppm hydrogen peroxide and 30-ppb silver ions (an
optimized formulation) required an exposure of 88 min). Water
quality significantly affected the inactivation of E. coli.
The first-order Chick Watson coefficient
of inactivation of E. coli-B with water containing 6 mg/L TOC was
reduced by three-fold compared to synthetic water (e.g., 0.078 vs.
0.024 L/min for exposure to 30 mg/L hydrogen peroxide and
30 ppb silver ions at pH 7 at ambient temperature). Inactivation
performance of the combined disinfectant increased at basic pH (e.g.,
log activation increased by two-fold by increasing the pH from 6
to 9 using the optimized formulation). Finally, inactivation performance
increased with temperature (e.g., two-fold increase in log inactivation
of E. coli resulted by increasing the temperature from 4 to 24 C
for a 1-hour exposure to the optimized formulation).
The inactivation performance of
hydrogen peroxide and copper ions showed much more significant
synergistic effect for all combinations that were examined in comparison
to the combined disinfectant using hydrogen peroxide and silver.
For example, inactivation of E. coli-B at pH 7 after 1 hour of exposure
at room temperature to 125 ppb copper ions showed less than 1-log
reduction. However, 4.3 logs reduction were obtained during the
same time interval in combination with 30 ppm hydrogen peroxide.
- Viral Inactivation. The
combined disinfectant showed rather low viral inactivation kinetics.
Approximately 6 hours were necessary to achieve 4 logs inactivation
of MS2 bacteriophage at 24 C and pH 7 using a rather high concentration
of the combined disinfectant (100 ppm hydrogen peroxide
and 100 ppb silver ion). Inactivation of the
MS2 virus was also achieved exclusively by the hydrogen peroxide
ingredient. The virus was unaffected by the presence of the silver
ions. The inactivation of Polio 1 was even lower. A 0.15 log reduction
was obtained by 12 hours exposure to the combined disinfectant,
again using 100 ppm hydrogen peroxide and 100 ppb silver ion.
- Biofilm Control. The
combined disinfectant using 30 ppm hydrogen peroxide
and 30 ppb silver ion was as effective in preventing
film growth as hydrogen peroxide alone (30 ppm). Both compositions
showed significant biofilm prevention as compared to silver ions
alone. However, biofilm control using approximately 1 ppm of chlorine
was considerably higher than that for the combined disinfectant.
The bacteria that survived after 48 hours disinfection with hydrogen
peroxide and the combined disinfectant showed high catalase activity,
hinting that hydrogen peroxide and the combined disinfectant may
have a rather limited effectiveness in continuous operation.
Disinfection By-Products. Addition of the
secondary disinfectant (silver or copper plus hydrogen peroxide)
following the use of chlorine or ozone as a primary disinfectant
produces very dramatic reductions in DBP formation. With chlorine,
the secondary disinfectant quenches the formation of trihalomethanes
(THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs), two sets of DBPs that have been
priorities for control and regulation. This quenching occurs due
to the reduction of chlorine to chloride by hydrogen peroxide,
which halts further reaction of chlorine with dissolved
organic matter and other DBP precursors. The reduction in DBPs resulting
from the primary and secondary disinfectants applies to a wide range
of temperatures, pH, bromide concentrations, and DOC levels. When
used with ozone, hydrogen peroxide also quenches formation of THMs,
though not as strongly. Preliminary results suggest that an ammonia
addition at the beginning of ozonation followed by hydrogen peroxide/silver
ion addition shortly afterwards could further reduce by-product
formation.
The addition of hydrogen peroxide
appears to form several aldehydes at low levels that resemble those
formed by the ozonation of water. Aldehyde formation is a strong
function of hydrogen peroxide concentration, and no formation is
observed with hydrogen peroxide concentrations below 4 mg/L.
Risks and Related Studies. Widespread use
of the combined disinfectant might result in potential for uptake
of silver ions by humans. Results suggest that risks are
minimal under all likely scenarios. Other risk-related
studies describe the loss of trihalomethanes. The results can be
used to improve exposure assessments of DBPs.
Potential Practical Applications. The experimental
research showed that the combined disinfectant offers synergistic
effects on the inactivation of E. coli that generally increased
with higher temperature and pH and decreased in secondary and tertiary
effluents; however, no increased virucidal action was observed and
biofilm control efficacy over long periods was limited. Used
as a secondary disinfectant following either chlorination or ozonation,
the hydrogen peroxide provided a strong quenching effect on the
major by-products. These studies suggest that the combined
disinfectant may be appropriate for use as long-term secondary residual
disinfectant for relatively high quality water in some circumstances.
This research also suggests that a multiple component disinfectant
combination applied sequentially (e.g., ozone, ammonia, and hydrogen
peroxide) might provide effective inactivation and reduced by-product
formation.
Publications/Presentations:
Articles in Peer Reviewed Journals
Glezer V, Harris B, Tal
N, Iosefzon B, Lev O. Hydrolysis of haloacetonitriles: linear free
energy relationship, kinetics and products. Water Research 1999;33(8):1938-1948.
Armon R, Laot N, Lev O,
Shuval H, Fattal B. Controlling biofilm formation by hydrogen peroxide
and silver combined disinfectant. Water Science and Technology 2000;42(1-2):187-192.
Batterman S, Zhang L,
Wang S. Quenching of disinfection by-product formation in chlorinated
drinking water by hydrogen peroxide. Water Research 2000;34(5):1652-1658.
Batterman S, Huang A-T,
Zhang L, Wang S. Reduction of Ingestion exposure to trihalomethanes
due to volatilization. Environmental Science and Technology 2000;34(20):
4418-4424.
Liberti L, Lopez A, Notamicola
M, Bamea N, Pedahzur R, Fattal B. Comparison of advanced disinfecting
methods for municipal wastewater reuse in agriculture. Water Science
and Technology 2000;42(1-2):215-220.
Pedahzur R, Katzenelson
D, Barnea N, Lev O, Shuval HI, Fattal B, Ulitzur S. The efficacy
of long-lasting residual drinking water disinfectants based on hydrogen
peroxide and silver. Water Science and Technology 2000;42(1-2):293-298.
Batterman S, Zhang L,
Wang S, Franzblau A. Partition coefficients for trihalomethanes
in blood, water and human milk and the potential for infant exposure.
Science of the Total Environment (in press, 2001).
Batterman S, Zhang L,
Wang S. Reduction of bromate and bromoform formation by hydrogen
peroxide during ozonation of bromide containing waters. Water Research
(submitted, 2001).
Batterman S, Zhang L,
Wang S. Formation of aldehydes and ketones during disinfection of
water using hydrogen peroxide (submitted, 2001).
Warila J, Batterman S.
A probabilistic model for silver bioaccumulation in aquatic systems
and assessment of human health risks. Journal of Environmental Toxicology
and Chemistry 2001;20(2):432-441.
Presentations
Batterman S, Zhang L,
Wang S, Mancy K. Disinfection by-products in drinking water systems.
Presented at the NSF/USEPA Conference on Drinking Water Small Scale
Systems, Washington, DC, May 10-13, 1998.
Zhang L, Batterman S,
Wang S, Mancy K. Reduction in disinfectant by-product formation
using chlorine as a primary disinfectant and a silver-hydrogen peroxide
formulation a secondary disinfectant. Presented at the 21st Midwest
Environmental Chemistry Workshop, Ann Arbor, MI, October 16-18,
1998.
Batterman S. Evaluation
of the efficacy of a new secondary disinfectant formulation using
hydrogen peroxide and silver and the formation of disinfection by-products
resulting from interactions with conventional disinfectants. Presented
at the STAR Grants Drinking Water Program Review Meeting, Washington,
DC, December 8-9, 1998.
Batterman S. Evaluation
of the Efficacy of a new secondary disinfectant formulation using
hydrogen peroxide and silver and the formulation of disinfection
by-products resulting from interactions with conventional disinfectants.
Presented at the U.S. EPA Research Drinking Water Progress Review,
Silver Spring, MD, February 22-23, 2001.
Batterman S, Huang A-T,
Zhang L, Wang S. Volatilization of trihalomethanes during storage
and consumption of tap water. In: Proceedings of the Exposure Assessment
for Disinfection By-Products in Epidemiological Studies International
Workshop, Ottawa, Canada, May 7-10, 2000.
Warila J, Batterman S.
A probabilistic model for the bioaccumulation of silver in aquatic
systems. Presented at the 21st Midwest Environmental Chemistry Workshop,
Ann Arbor, MI, October 16-18, 1998.
Warila J, Batterman S.
A probabilistic tropic level model for silver bioaccumulation in
aquatic systems. 19th Annual Meeting, Society of Environmental Toxicology
and Chemistry, Charlotte, NC, November 15-19, 1998.
Other Publications
Katzenelson D. Kinetics
of water disinfection using hydrogen peroxide and silver ions separately
and in combination. M.S. Thesis, Department of Environmental Sciences,
The Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel, 2001.
Pedahzur R. The effect
of physico-chemical factors on the bactericidal properties of hydrogen
peroxide and metals—luminescent bacteria as a model. Ph.D.
Thesis, Department of Environmental Sciences, The Hebrew University,
Jerusalem, Israel, 2001.
Warila J. Ecological risk
assessment of silver effluents in aquatic systems. M.S. Thesis,
Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan, September
1998.
Warila J. Ecological risk
assessment of silver effluents in aquatic systems. M.S. Thesis,
Environmental and Industrial Health, University of Michigan, Ann
Arbor, MI, December 1998.
The Editor 16 |
May 2003 |
Mid SC Mail |
By e-mail |
Dear Editor
With reference to the recent letter by Mike McCarthy concerning
colloidal silver, whilst Mike is to be applauded for his concern
and vigilance in the public interest, as a role-player in the introduction
of colloidal silver to South Africa, I would welcome an opportunity
to balance your reader’s current perspective by presenting
pertinent information that Mr McCarthy, in his zeal to make his
many valid points regarding exaggerated health claims, has overlooked.
Modern electrolytic colloidal silver is
an oligodynamic (effective in ultra-low concentration) naturally
microbicidal earth element by virtue of disabling only the metabolic
enzymes of anaerobic unicellular micro-organisms, yet is uniquely
harmless to mammals at effective concentrations (Thurman R et al,
1st International Conference on Gold & Silver in Medicine, Silver
Institute, Wash, 1989). Modern soil depletion, food processing and
water treatment (flocculation and filtration) mitigate against reliably
receiving adequate dietary amounts of this protective element, which
constitutes about 0.07ppm (parts per million) in the earth's crust
and until fairly recently, was readily available via the food chain
and was supplemented by food related silverware without any epidemiological
evidence of harm.
Rosemary Jacobs, the most popularised argyria
victim, who is used to demonise colloidal silver, was poisoned more
than forty years ago by "silver nose drops of unknown composition"
(NEJM, 340(20), 1999). There are no cases of argyria in modern medical
history as a result of electro-colloidal silver, despite its popularity.
All reference to toxicities, on careful checking, leads directly
to industrial exposures or abuse of orthodoxy sanctioned, now discontinued
medical silver products, usually not even colloidal silver and if
so, always by a defunct grind method, and in cases of severe toxicities,
intravenous injections in gram-plus quantities in animal experiments
(US EPA, Integrated Risk Information System, “Silver”,
1998). The key to the safety and efficacy of modern colloidal/ionic
silver is its atomic and sub-atomic particle size and hence greater
individual number and total active surface area.
Exaggerated commercial health claims for
colloidal silver use against serious medical conditions and OTC
or self-treatment without adequate supervision or well-informed
protocols, adds legitimacy to regulator’s concerns, yet much
misinformation about colloidal silver toxicity has its genesis in
the protectionist pharma-cartel and its bought and / or ideologically
biased lap-dog regulatory agencies. As an example, consider this
paradox, forced upon the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration
when it recently attempted to regulate colloidal silver as a medicine
because of “significant toxicity and no legitimate uses”
but had to amend its own illogical legislation so as to effectively
exempt colloidal silver provided it is sold for use in the “purification
or treatment of drinking water without therapeutic claims”
(Commonwealth of Australia, Special Gazette No S 486, 20 December
2002). The obvious absurdity is that a substance cannot be toxic
and useless only when sold with therapeutic claims, yet safe and
efficacious if added to drinking water at the same approved concentrations,
in this instance, over an entire lifetime.
Some foods accumulate silver, eg mushrooms
may boost silver consumption up to between 200 to 300ppm per day.
Approximately 10% of orally-ingested silver enters systemic circulation
and of that, up to 98% is gathered up by metallothioneins, which
transport, store and detoxify essential and nonessential trace metals
(Silver, The Healthful Metal, Silver Institute, Wash, December 31,
1999). Argyria, a bluish-grey discoloration of the skin, although
not aesthetic, is extremely rare, is “non-pathogenic”
/ “medically benign” and a daily ingestion dose of 1-30gram
would be required to induce the condition (Fowler B, Nordberg G,
“Silver”, in Handbook on the Toxicology of Metals, Friberg
L et al, eds. Elsevier Sci Pub, Vol 2, 521-31, 1986); (US EPA, Integrated
Risk Information System: ‘Silver’, 1998). Approximately
3.5gram daily over an entire lifetime will be required to cause
argyria, according to a year 2000 estimate by international trace
mineral expert, Prof Alexander Schauss, PhD, Director of Life Sciences
at John Hopkins University, in response to FDA proposals, which
is 10,000 times that advocated.
Ionic/atomic silver is an effective antimicrobial
at concentrations astronomical orders of magnitude below what is
harmful to higher life forms. Concentrations necessary to sterilise
drinking water (or by extension, body fluids – we are 70%
water) contaminated with pathogens are 40-200 gamma / .04-.2ppm
(1ppm = 1000 gamma) (Thomson N, Comprehensive Inorganic Chemistry,
Pergamon, NY, 1973). Most colloidal silver available in South Africa
is generated by a water purification device from the Gaia Research
Institute, producing 1ppm of silver (and possibly a suggested microbicidal
synergism with 5-15 drops of hydrogen peroxide). One teaspoon (5ml)
of 1ppm colloidal silver in a glass (250ml) of water equals 20ppb.
Since drinking water guidelines relate to lifetime exposure for
the most susceptible sub-groups, calculated at 2 litres a day over
an entire lifetime, one could safely consume 8 glasses each with
5 teaspoons (25 ml) of 1 ppm of colloidal silver every day without
risk of argyria, the only and purely hypothetical risk to users.
Most commonly used is a mere teaspoon in a glass of water 3 or 4
times daily.
Colloidal Silver and hydrogen peroxide,
especially in combination, exhibit significant microbial inactivation
at concentrations that pose no health risk according to the EEC,
WHO and US EPA. Several countries, including Switzerland, Germany
and Australia have given approval for the use of colloidal silver
and hydrogen peroxide as a drinking water disinfectant. The EEC
and Israel Ministry of Health have specifically approved the use
of colloidal silver as a drinking water disinfectant at an MCL (Maximum
Contaminant Level) of 80ppb (Pedahzur, R et al, Water Sci Technol,
31(5-6), 1995). Widespread use might result in potential
for uptake of silver ions by humans, but research suggests that:
“risks are minimal under all likely scenarios” (Final
Report: Evaluation of the Efficacy of a New Secondary Disinfectant
Formulation Using Hydrogen Peroxide and Silver. US EPA NNCER, Dec
3, 2001).
The USA EPA has declared that “silver
does not cause adverse health effects” and set a MCL at 100
ppb for all drinking water. Recently an EU Drinking Water Standard
proposed removing any upper limit for silver in drinking water,
following the WHO’s Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality,
which states that: "it is not necessary to recommend any health-based
guidelines for silver as it is not hazardous to human health"
("Silver Water Purification
Systems Offer Reliable Alternative to Chlorine", The Silver
Institute, Wash, March 25, 1997). The World Health Organisation
still advocates 100ppb levels of silver for drinking water (Pelkonen
K et al, Toxicology, 186(1-2), 2003). I shall resist
arguing for the efficacy of colloidal silver against bacteria, viruses,
spore-forming organisms, yeasts and mould fungi, since this should
be beyond dispute. As mentioned previously, we are comprised of
75% water. By restoring and maintaining the integrity of that water,
we restore and maintain the integrity of the body by freeing it
of pathogens. Herein lies the paradox of philosophically diametrically
opposed public health authorities both praising and demonizing the
same substance. I shall leave it to the now informed reader to decide
either way.
Stuart Thomson
Director, Gaia
Research Institute, Knysna.
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