All: None of these things are true. Argyria is not a condition that is limited to the skin. Cosmetic Argyria gets the most attention because it has a noticeable effect. However, silver can be deposited in organs and other tissues. As long as a critical level is not achieved, it is not toxic. The fact that light is required ( and perhaps acid ) to cause a VISIBLE disfiguration has nothing whatsoever to do with silver being actually DEPOSITED into tissues.
Both ionic silver and particulate silver have been documented to cause argyria. If the ionic silver remained ionic, it would be impossible for it to cause Argyria. But the fact is that I'm sure that many chemical processes in the body can cause the silver to "plate-out". It IS true, though, that the studies were done with toxic forms of silver compounds. This was soley due to the forms of silver that were available and in use at the time. It may be that the most minute silver particles do not accumulate in the body at all with long term use. But it should be clarified that this has never been established as fact. Perhaps Francis Key et al could conduct a long term study ( 2-3 years ) with a few willing voluteers. Since their measuring equipment is capable of extremely precise analysis of total silver content, and their product is unique, it, I think, would be a worthy endevour... In conjunction, levels of selenium, vitamin E, magnesium and calcium could be monitored throughout the period. Take an average individual, an individual with a compromised liver, and an individual with severe immunodeficiency disorder, and do a comparative study. While I don't think you could take three test cases to the FDA, it would no doubt be the first steps in clarifying the whole issue. Of course, if anyone wants to bankroll the study, I would love to do such a study with a highly ionic silver and a highly particulate silver! Jason > My guess is that the researchers were biologists and didn't have a clue as to the > chemistry requirements. If any of these steps are not done, then argyria cannot > form. > > 1. silver must be ionic, such as a compound > 2. when silver is in the body, the skin must be exposed to light, preferrably UV > for seeding. > 3. The skin must be alkaline. Although the blood is alkaline, the skin is > usually acid. So washing with something like lye soap would likely do that. > 4. The blood must have a developer in it. Caffine is a good developer. > 5. The ionic concentration of silver must be high enough to cause the particles > to grow rapidly enough to get trapped in the skin. > > Note that with CS, there are loads of seed particles avaiable, and most are not > at the skin. So a large quantity of true colloid could also prevent argyria as > it would use up the ionic silver long before it found it's way to the skin and > any particles formed by exposure to the light. > > I bet if they had consulted a chemist from Kodak they could find a way to do it > repeatably. > > Marshall > > > -- > The silver-list is a moderated forum for discussion of colloidal silver. > > Instructions for unsubscribing may be found at: http://silverlist.org > > To post, address your message to: [email protected] > > Silver-list archive: http://escribe.com/health/thesilverlist/index.html > > List maintainer: Mike Devour <[email protected]> > >
