Metabolic Solutions Info Report
Metabolic Solutions Institute
902-584-3810
we recently completed an extensive review of the
scientific literature on the safety of silver,
especially as it relates to its one known potential side
effect, namely, Argyria. Argyria is an irreversible
discoloration of the pigment (skin) caused by excessive
silver intake or chronic exposure to silver by certain
tissues. The amount of silver required to develop
Argyria is estimated to be 3.8 grams per day.
By comparison standard 10 ppm colloidal silver contains
silver in amounts equaling less than 1 milligram of
silver (1,000 micrograms = 1 milligram; 1,000 milligrams
- 1 gram), which therefore represents an amount
approximately 1/500th to 1/1000th of the amount of
silver considered to be a risk in the development of
Argyria.
Most cases of Argyria reported in the medical literature
over the last 100 years involved chronic intravenous or
intramuscular use of the silver preparations, most often
involving a silver drug prescribed by physicians which
in most cases contained silver nitrate. Other cases of
Argyria reported in the medical literature involve
application of silver preparations used for
many months or years in the treatment of the eye or
vagina for certain diseases. We
could not locate a single case of orally consumed
colloidal silver manufactured in the last 25 years
causing Argyria in our review of the literature.
Sincerely,
Alexander G. Schauss, Ph.D.
Director, Life Sciences Division
John Hopkins University
About
Dr. Alexander Schauss Ph.D: Alexander G. Schauss, Ph.D., is the Director of the Life
Sciences Division of the American Institute for
Biosocial Research, Inc. in Tacoma, WA.
He is a member of the Government's Commission on Dietary
Supplements.
He holds joint faculty positions as Associate Professor
of Research and Senior Director of Research and
Development at the Southwest College of Naturopathic
Medicine and Health Sciences, in Tempe, Arizona.
Associate Professor of Behavioural Sciences at the
National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland,
Oregon.
Dr. Schauss is an Emeritus Member of the New York
Academy of Sciences.
Former Chairman of the Food Policy Council of the
National Council for Public Health Policy.
Founding Member of the British Society of Nutritional
Medicine,
Emeritus Executive Director of the American Preventive
Medical Association.
Emeritus Executive Director and current President of
Citizens for Health.
Member of the American Public Health Association.
Member of the American Association for the Advancement
of Science.
Dr. Schauss is an accomplished author and lecturer, and
has appeared on almost every major radio and television
talk show in the United States. His most recent book,
"MINERALS, TRACE ELEMENTS AND HUMAN HEALTH" has become a
national best seller.
The term Argyria describes the condition of a
bluish-gray colour of the skin, and Argyosis the bluing
of the eye white, resulting from the use of SILVER
COMPOUNDS.
To better understand the misconception regarding
Argyria, I will quote from the book "The Micro Silver
Bullet"(tm) by Dr. M. Paul Farber 1996 page XII (ISBN
1-887742-00-X) In reference to a "Journal of American
Medical Association" article, October 18 1995, volume
274 # 15, where cases of Argyria were cited to have been
caused by silver compounds (not colloidal silver, but
silver mixed with other metals), note:
"These Case history presentations represent biased and
unprofessional writing. The author's apparent inability
to understand the difference between a silver nitrate,
sulfide, or other silver compound demonstrates their
lack of understanding of basic chemical properties. The
matrix, substrate, and particle size are all critical to
the varied functions and reactions with use of these
products. That is why there has
not been a single case of Argyria from a properly
manufactured modern-day colloidal silver product.
[editors emphasis] The cases of Argyria reported in the
1920's and 1930's resulted because the technology of the
day was unable to produce a pure colloidal silver
product with a small enough particle size."
Ref. (4-A)
The reported cases of Argyria
usually involved very high and frequent doses over
extended periods of time of silver salts/compounds such
as silver sulfate, silver nitrate, silver chloride, etc.
Dr. Robert Becker is one of the greatest orthopaedic
surgeons and research scientists the world has ever
seen. In his best selling book, The Body Electric Dr.
Becker states in a chapter entitled The Silver Wand
that unlike other metals, silver has absolutely no
toxicity whatsoever.
On the contrary, what he found was that the
positively charged silver ion
had remarkable disinfectant properties and an amazing
power to heal and regenerate damaged tissue.
After countless experiments over many years, he states
that we are just touching the surface of a miracle in
modern medicine.
The EEC, WHO and Israel Ministry of Healthhave
specifically approved the use of colloidal silver as a
drinking water disinfectant at an MCL of 80 ppb. (1)
Switzerland, Germany and Australia have given approval
for the use of a commercial formulation of colloidal
silver and hydrogen peroxide as a drinking water
disinfectant. (1)
The US EPA has declared that silver does not cause
adverse health effects and has set a Maximum Level at
100 ppb for all drinking water.
A new European Union Drinking Water Standard in draft
form has removed any upper limit for silver in drinking
water following the WHOs Guidelines for Drinking Water
Quality which states that "it is not necessary to
recommend any health-based guidelines for silver as it
is not hazardous to human health". (2)
1) Pedahzur, R et al, Water Science Technology, Vol. No.
5-6, pp 123-129, 1995;
2) Press Release, The Silver Institute, March 25, 1997.
"Silver Water Purification
Systems Offer Reliable Alternative to Chlorine".
(http://www.silverinstitute.org/news/prwater1.htm)
Dr. Samuel Etris, a senior consultant at the Silver
Institute, says there has never been any allergenic,
toxic or carcinogenic reactions to Colloidal Silver. The
U.S. Government's Center for Disease Control confirmed
that fact in 1995.
Further facts attesting to the safety of silver:
The ceramic candles commonly found in household
water filters and used by millions worldwide, contains
silver nitrate or silverized activated carbon filters
and ion-exchange resins.
A silver based product is now the standard medication
for the treatment of severe burns in all major hospital
burn centres throughout the world.
NASA researched 23 different methods of water
purification and finally chose a silver water filter
system for recycling water aboard the space shuttles.
Here
is an interesting letter to the FDA
requesting
information on the harmful effects of Colloidal Silver.
The FDA's response was that they could not locate any cases responsive to the request.
Food and Drug Administration
U.S. Department Of Health and Human Services
Public Health Service
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD 20857
Dear Sirs/Madam,
Persuant to the Freedom of Information Act and in regard to your August 17th, 1999 ruling regarding
colloidal silver, could you please supply the following documentation on which you based your
decision?
1. The number of deaths related to the consumption of colloidal silver.
2. The number of allergic reactions to the consumption of colloidal silver.
3. The number of harmful drug interactions from both OTC and prescription drugs when combined with colloidal silver.
4. The number of reported cases of Argyria from colloidal silver made with the AC or DC electrical
process.
5. The number of cases of Argyria from colloidal silver that did not contain protein stabilizers.
Thank you for your time and consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
Brent Finnigan
THE
FDA's RESPONSE
Public Health Service
Center for Drug Evaluation and Research
Office of Training and Communication
Freedom of Information Staff HFD-205
5600 Fishers Lane 12 B 05
Rockville, Maryland 20857
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
November 3, 1999
In Response Refer to File: F99-22589
Brent Finnigan Takoma (sic), WA 98408
Dear Mr. Finnigan:
This is in response to your request of 10/14/99, in which you requested adverse events associated with the use of Colloidal Silver. Your request was received in the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research on 10/25/99.
We have searched the records from FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS) and have been unable to locate any cases that would be responsive to your request.
Charges of $3.50 (Search $3.50, Review $0, Reproduction $0, Computer time $0) will be included in
a monthly invoice. DO NOT SEND ANY PAYMENT UNTIL YOU RECEIVE AN INVOICE.
If there are any problems with this response, please notify us in writing of your specific problem(s).
Please reference the above file number.
Sincerely,
Hal Stepper
Freedom of Information Technician
Office of Training and Communications
Freedom of Information Staff, HFD-205
