Transport, Fate and Effects Of Silver In The Environment
Date
1995-08
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Abstract
Description
Inorganic and organic components of water influence silver speciation in waste water effluent
and may affect silver toxicity. Cationic and anionic constituents of aqueous systems control
ionic strength which affect metal solubility. Organic materials such as humic and fulvic acids are
capable of complexing silver and other metals in solution. It is also entirely possible that silver
combines with ions and/or organic material to form suspended solids which are measured as
aqueous silver. This suspended silver may be less available for bioaccumulation than are soluble
forms of silver. Lower bioavailability of silver reduces the toxicity observed for silver solutions.
To address silver solubility and availability questions, silver concentrations discussed in this
paper were evaluated along with toxic responses of aquatic organisms to test solutions (Klaine et
al., this publication).
Keywords
Silver, Environment