Is it true that a silver spoon disinfect a glass of water?

From ancient times, silver was attributed to cleansing and disinfecting abilities. In many ways, therefore, dishes for the nobility and for religious rituals were often made from this noble metal. We decided to check whether it has real disinfecting properties.

Stories and even instructions for the use of silver dishes for disinfectants can be found not only in Blogs And social networksbut also in Media. Sites dedicated to a healthy lifestyle, Consult Apply silver water as a preventive agent, as well as for the treatment of many diseases: colds, bronchitis, sinusitis, gastritis.

The most ancient silver products were discovered On the territory of ancient Egypt, they also belonged to the pre -dodic period (5000–3400 BC). Until the middle of the II millennium BC. e. Silver was even more expensive than gold. Herodotus historian celebratedthat in the 5th century BC. e. The leader of the Persians Cyrus II took drinking water in silver jugs with him on hikes. Alchemists Related Silver to one of the three noble metals (along with gold and platinum) and looked for ways to obtain it from other substances. Know the person of royal blood preferred Use silver dishes, it was also popular in Christian rites, largely due to the bactericidal properties attributed to it. In Europe of the New Age, colloidal silver solutions and its salt prescribed Patients with various diseases: colds, trophic ulcers, epilepsy and gonorrhea.

Silver -Proth, rather heavy (heavier than copper) silver-white metal, which has the highest electrical conductivity at room temperature. As a representative of noble metals, silver does not dissolve in salt and diluted sulfuric acid, but easily dissolves in mercury, forming Amalgam. Silver atom consists of From a positively charged nucleus, inside of which there are 47 protons and 61 neutron, and electrons are moving around five orbits. When the electron is separated atom It becomes An electrically charged particle - ion. Silver can be represented in the form of pure metal, various compounds (mainly salts) and colloidal solution, saturated with precisely positively charged ions. More precisely, it will even be said that colloidal silver over time becomes a source of silver ions.

Modern medicine uses only a few drugs that include silver salts. For example, "Protargol"-antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory drug of local action, which is mainly used in ENT practitioners,"Collargol" - a solution with an astringent, antiseptic and anti -inflammatory property,"Argosufan" - a cream for the treatment of burn, trophic, purulent wounds, as well as the pressure sore. It is important to note that all of them relate to external drugs. 

Colloidal silver Represents Silver nanoparticles floating in water or other liquid. There are true silver solutions (for example, its nitrate), which are metal ions and acid residue. At the same time, both the colloidal silver itself, and its ions really possess Antimicrobial effect - they penetrate the microbial cell and destroy it. By data WHO, the necessary concentration for a guaranteed antibacterial effect is 0.15 mg/l. In drinking water, SanPiN 1.2.3685-21 "Drinking water" is the most allowable amount of this metal It is Only 0.05 mg/l, which is three times less than necessary for disinfecting action. 

It is important to note that with a chronic excess of the maximum permissible levels of silver consumption in humans develops Argirosis-the skin acquire a silver or gray-blue tint. Moreover, changes in the color of the skin are irreversible, even laser therapy does not have a significant effect. One of the most famous patients with this condition was California resident Paul Karason. Over the years, he drank a colloidal silver solution prepared at home. In addition to argyrosis, excessive use of silver Maybe Bring to problems with the kidneys and gastrointestinal tract, convulsions and headaches. In some countries, even legislative forbidden advertise colloidal silver as having a therapeutic effect, since it has no proven effectiveness, while silver ions are toxicity Excess heavy metals.

True, in the case of using silver dishes, you should not be afraid of health consequences. Colloidal solution Can Get only using a special tool - an ionizer that passes an electric current through water that promotes the unholation of electrons. Weak colloidal solution will be contain From 1 mg of silver per liter, more concentrated - up to 35. A spoon simply lowered into a glass of water will not saturate the water as dangerous for the body (above 0.05 mg/l), or even more necessary for a bactericidal effect (0.15 mg/l) with concentration.

Thus, a silver spoon simply lowered into a glass will not create concentration necessary for antimicrobial action. However, provided that an electric current will be passed through water, it will actually be able to disinfect a glass of water. True, drinking water purified in this way will be dangerous for a person for another reason. 

Half truth

What do our verdicts mean?

Read on the topic:

1. Silver fever in the United States died "Blue Man" Paul Carasoon
2. Stephen Barrett "Colloidal silver: risk without advantages"