Deborah Gerard wrote:

>  This is a post in response to a nurse...I suggested that one could
> use cs in a nebulizer..this was her response. Is it unsafe to use
> silver as an inhalent?thanks everyone...debin itself it is non toxic.
> However,  it is an element,  a sort of solid (  microscopic particles
> )  and if they get down into the lungs,  can interfere with the
> cellular transfer of oxygen and carbon dioxide.  So,  when inhaling it
> into your nose you have to make certain you do not inhale too large of
> particles of it,  so that it does not go any further back than the
> back of your throat.

Silver particles are converted to silver oxide and silver hydroxide in
the lungs over time, which are then absorbed into the blood steam and
then converted back to silver particles and excreted.  This is preformed
by the lungs producing small amounts of hydrogen peroxide which reacts
with the silver particles.

Marshall