Note that the abstract in the first few cites mentions only the total silver. It is no doubt part of an ionic compound. It does not mention colloidal silver at all, and in the orchid example specifies silver nitrate. Most living things would wilt if they had most of their body sprayed with 9.5 mg/L silver nitrate. The soil organisms were probably killed where the soil was wetted.
Does anyone know what heterotrophic means?: "heterotrophic activities of the microbial flora" James-Osbourne: Holmes -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Thursday, August 29, 2002 3:41 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: CS>CS Strength Johnny wrote: Catching up- Can anyone respond to the factual nature of the statement here- about silver ions killing organisms in the soil? Johnny Silverseed- author: "C/s...@ntibiotic Suprehero" Hi Johnny, The last sentance of this paragraph is what I was refering to. A link to this report by the Canadian Gov. (B.C.) follows. Keep in mind the toxic level noted is per kilogram of soil. http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wat/wq/BCguidelines/silver/bcsilver-36.htm#TopOfPag e Irrigation with 9.8 mg silver/L is toxic to maize and 4.9 mg/L is toxic to lupines (Cooper and Jolly 1970). There was no significant effect on wheat or maize at 460 mg/kg silver as AgI in sandy or loam soil but 640 mg/kg silver as AgI of soil inhibited germination of Engelmann spruce seeds (Klein 1978). Spraying a AgNO3 solution at 9.5 mg silver/L caused damage to Cattleya orchids (Beyer 1976) and a decrease was noted in the growth rate of bean plants grown in a nutrient solution containing 9 µg silver as AgNO3 /L. Silver levels in the sediments or soils which exceed 25 to 50 mg silver/kg may have significant effects on the heterotrophic activities of the microbial flora (Sokoland Klein1975).
