Nano Silver – Ecofriendly or Biohazard?

Is Using Silver as an Antibacterial Agent in Consumer Products Safe?

Aug 23, 2009

Silver is being promoted as an environmentally-friendly alternative to chemical-based disinfectants, but research has yet to determine its impact on the environment.

With the seemingly sudden appearance of numerous silver-laced, antibacterial products, Nanosilver appears to be the latest addition to the arsenal of eco-friendly cleaning products available in the marketplace. Although, the antibacterial properties of silver have been known for centuries, the ability to incorporate them into consumer products has not been within reach until the development of nanotechnologies. And, as the technology becomes more affordable, silver nanoparticles are being added to numerous consumer products including socks, bed sheets, cleansers, cleaning cloths, mops, paint, and bandages.

Silver - A "Natural" Bactericide

For an environmentally-conscious society increasingly concerned about the next health pandemic and worried about the spread of H1N1, SARS, Avian Flu and other bacteria-born illnesses, using a "natural" bactericide sounds like an ideal solution -- perhaps too good to be true. Unfortunately, "natural" is not the same as "environmentally safe". In fact, silver is classified as an environmental hazard because it is toxic, persistent, and bioaccumulative in some circumstances. In addition, nanotechnology is not well researched or regulated, so the environmental impact and risks of silver nanoparticles is not known.

Many research studies have focused on the ability of silver to kill microorganisms, which it does very well. These studies have shown that it is effective on up to 22 different strains of microorganisms, and silver is often touted for its ability to kill microorganisms indiscriminately.

Leeching Silver Nanoparticles into Wastewater

One of the concerns about the use of silver nanoparticles is the ability to contain it. If silver nanoparticles woven into materials stayed in those materials, its impact on the environment may be controlled; however, studies have shown that nanoparticles can leech out of materials and wind up in wastewater systems where their indiscriminant killing can be extremely harmful. In his report, Silver Nanotechnologies and the Environment (September 2008) available on the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies (PEN) website, Samuel Luoma, states that "Nearly one third of nanosilver products on the market in September 2007 had the potential to disperse silver or silver nanoparticles into the environment."

Adverse Effects of Nanotechnology

In addition, research on nanotechnology has also raised health and environmental concerns. The Friends of the Earth Nanotechnology Project website lists some recent studies that have shown some of the potentially harmful effects of nanotechnology on human skin cells, liver cells, colon cells, as well as on fish brain cells.

Evaluating the Research About the Safety of Products Containing Silver Nanoparticles

In light of these issues, marketing and labeling silver-laced products as "eco-friendly" is misleading, to say the least. Some situations may warrant using silver as a bactericide, such as in bandages for burn victims; however, the indiscriminant addition of it to such a wide variety of consumer products without any real understanding of its impact is simply dangerous. The next time you are considering an "ecofriendly" product containing silver, ask for the research that proves it is safe for the environment. If you cannot obtain real scientific evidence of its safety, ask yourself if the potential benefits are worth the potential risk.

The copyright of the article Nano Silver – Ecofriendly or Biohazard? in Pollution Control is owned by Sharon Russell. Permission to republish Nano Silver – Ecofriendly or Biohazard? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.