A eview of the literature revealed that bioaccumulation of silver in soil is rather low, even if the soil is amended with silver-containing sewage sludge. Plants grown on tailings of silver mines were found to have silver primarily in the root systems. In marine and freshwater systems, the highest reported bioconcentration factors (BCFs) were observed in algae (>105), probably because of adsorption of the dissolved silver (<0.45 μm fraction) to the cell surface. In herbivorous organisms (e.g., zooplankton and bivalves), the BCF was lower by about two orders of magnitude. Low amounts of silver were assimilated from food with no substantial biomagnification. In carnivores (e.g., fish), the BCF was also lower by one order of magnitude with no indication of biomagnification. Toxicity of silver occurs mainly in the aqueous phase and depends on the concentration of active, free Ag+ ions. Accordingly, many processes and water characteristics reduce silver toxicity by stopping the formation of free Ag+, binding Ag+, or preventing binding of Ag+ to the reactive surfaces of organisms. The solubility of a silver compound, and the presence of complexing agents (e.g., thiosulfate or chloride), dissolved organic carbon, and competing ions are important. In soil, sewage sludge, and sediments, in which silver sulfide predominates, the toxicity of silver, even at high total concentrations, is very low. The highly soluble silver thiosulfate complex has low toxicity, which can be attributed to the silver complexed by thiosulfate. Silver nitrate is one of the most toxic silver compounds. The toxic potential of silver chloride complexes in seawater is and will be an important issue for investigation. Aquatic chronic tests, long-term tests, and tests including sensitive life stages show lower toxicity thresholds (˜1 μg Ag+/L). The organisms viewed as most sensitive to silver are small aquatic invertebrates, particularly embryonic and larval stages.

https://setac.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/etc.5620180112

Bioaccumulation and toxicity of silver compounds: A review

Silver has been used for centuries. Today, silver and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are used in a wide range of healthcare, food industry, domiciliary applications, and are commonly found in hard surface materials and textiles. Such an extensive use raises questions about its safety, environmental toxicity and the risks associated with microbial resistance and cross-resistance. If the mechanisms of antimicrobial action of ionic silver (Ag+) have been studied, there is little understanding of AgNPs interactions with microorganisms. There have been excellent reviews on the bacterial resistance mechanisms to silver, but there is a paucity of information on resistance to AgNPs. Silver toxicity and accumulation in the environment has been studied and there is a better understanding of silver concentration and species in different environmental compartments. However, owing to the increased applications of silver and AgNPs, questions remain about the presence and consequences of AgNPs in the environment. This rev...

Silver as an antimicrobial: facts and gaps in knowledge

Historical contamination of PAHs, PCBs, DDTs, and heavy metals in Mississippi River Delta, Galveston Bay and Tampa Bay sediment cores

Estuarine trace metal distributions in Galveston Bay: importance of colloidal forms in the speciation of the dissolved phase

The partitioning (or sorption) of trace elements from aqueous solutions onto mineral surfaces and natural organic matter (NOM) has played a major role in determining the trace element content of natural waters. This review examines sorption processes on mineral surfaces for nine trace elements (Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sr, Cd, Hg, Pb), focusing on the results of modern x-ray spectroscopic studies. Such studies provide unique information on the structure and composition of sorption products, including their mode of attachment to mineral surfaces or functional groups in NOM under in situ conditions (i.e., with aqueous solution present at 25°C). The types of chemical reactions (acid-base, ligand exchange, redox, dissolution/reprecipitation) that can occur at mineral-aqueous solution interfaces are also reviewed, and some of the factors that affect the reactivity of mineral surfaces are discussed, including changes in the geometric and electronic structures of mineral surfaces when they first react with aqueous so...

A. Cantu

Papers

Partitioning of Cu, Pb, Ag, Zn, Fe, Al, and Mn between filter-retained particles, colloids, and solution in six Texas estuaries