Safety & Toxicity
Maintaining Safe Dosage Levels
The most common misconception about silver’s use as a dietary supplement is that it is neither safe nor effective. This is in direct contradiction to the many known benefits of silver, which are even acknowledged by and employed as sanitizing methods by federal and regulatory agencies.
A common claim is that silver poses risks of Argyria, although we dispel that myth. Contrary to this claim, there is a well-known 120-year History of Safe Use of Silver. Additionally, we have compiled the largest single database on silver and published papers on its physical and chemical properties, applications, safety and toxicity, efficacy, metabolism and so much more, which you can explore in our Knowledge Library.
As with any prescription medication or dietary supplement, the success of silver hydrosol as an immune* supplement depends on correct usage.
Reaching toxic levels of silver can lead to Argyria
The only toxic reaction reported by the ATSDR (among other federal agencies) from silver exposure is Argyria, which is explained below:
Argyria (Greek: ἄργυρος argyros silver + -ia) is a non-toxic, benign cosmetic condition caused by the ingestion of silver salts, silver compounds or silver dust which then react with ultra-violet light and results in a bluish coloration within the skin or sclera.
The most common cause is from excess silver salts accumulating in and around sudoriferous glands (perspiration glands). The skin serves as an alternative route of elimination of silver salts when the conjugation rate and/or elimination rate in the liver slows while dealing with large doses of silver or when the liver itself is compromised.
The potential for an argyric reaction to occur is directly related to the anion associated with the silver rather than the silver itself, thus a nitrate salt has a higher potential than a chloride and a chloride salt has a higher potential than a hydroxide.
Argyria may be found as generalized argyria or local argyria. Argyrosis is the corresponding condition related to the eye. Argyria may stem from inhalation exposure in work environments creating silver dust, from prescribed medicines using a silver mineral salt or an organic silver salt, or treatment of extensive burns with silver sulfadiazine. The most common event stems from homemade preparations, which attempt to make “colloidal silver” in water containing halides, especially chlorine. Silver chloride has a dull white color as it forms in water. Silver chloride is currently the most common salt associated with cases of argyria.
Individuals with pre-existing metal toxicity issues, liver issues and/or chronic nutritional insufficiencies are the most susceptible to potential argyric reactions from silver salts.
Argyria has mostly been found to be a permanent condition, although some cases reported of reversal have been reported using Q-switched and laser technologies, as well as chelation and other therapies.
Silver hydrosol has never been reported to cause a single case of Argyria.
The risks and toxicity associated with silver have always been attributed to extreme quantities of silver arising from silver salts or silver compounds and inhaled silver powder, none from oligodynamic silver. By definition, it would be functionally impossible for oligodynamic silver to achieve toxicity levels, as determined by the Environmental Protection Agency (see charts below or http://www.epa.gov/iris/subst/0099.htm).*
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Drug Registry (ATSDR) has established a Lethal Dose (50) of 100 mg/kg of ingested silver (in mice). Sovereign Silver (at 10ppm, or 10mg/L potency), delivers 50 mcg (0.05mg/L) of silver. Maximum dosage is 7x/day, so 7 x 50mcg = 350 mcg (0.35mg). To reach the LD50, an average 70kg individual would have to ingest 700 liters (70kg x 100 mg/kg) of silver hydrosol in one day.
As the silver authority Goetz stated as far back as 1940, “In view of practical applications it appears that silver is best suited as an oligodynamic material because of the extremely slight solubility of most of its salts, which fact renders it almost impossible for large concentrations of silver ions to occur in higher life organisms.”* [Goetz A et al. The Oligodyanmic Effect of Silver. In: Addicks L, ed. Silver in Industry. NY: Reinhold Publishing Corp, 1940:401-429]
Natural Immunogenics Corp. has taken great care in establishing the safety of its silver hydrosol products, and has not only relied upon good guidance from the EPA on dosage amounts, but we have also employed independent third party experts to confirm product safety.
Why 10 ppm?
The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has, for health purposes, established a daily oral reference dose for silver over a 70-year study.
Safe: 350 micrograms (mcg)
Critical: 980 micrograms (lowest observed adverse event level)
Concentration |
Tsp. once a day |
Power dose 5-7 times daily |
|
10 ppm |
50 mcg |
250-350 mcg |
|
25 ppm |
125 mcg |
625-875 mcg |
|
50 ppm |
250 mcg |
1,250-1,750 mcg |
|
100 ppm |
500 mcg |
2,500-3,500 mcg |
|
250 ppm |
1,250 mcg |
6,250-8,750 mcg |
|
500 ppm |
2,500 mcg |
12,500-17,500 mcg |
|
1,000 ppm |
5,000 mcg |
25,000-35,000 mcg |
|
2,000 ppm |
10,000 mcg |
50,000-70,000 mcg |
Source: www.epa.gov —- IRIS Report —- Silver
* These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.
