Colloidal silver man who turned blue skin#

Historically, colloidal silver, a liquid suspension of microscopic silver particles, was also used as an internal medication to treat a variety of diseases. However, the level of silver in the air and the length of exposure that caused argyria in these workers is not known. In the past, some of these workers have become argyric. People who work in factories that manufacture silver products can also breathe in silver or its compounds. Argyria occurs in people who ingest or inhale silver in large quantities over a long period (several months to many years).

Colloidal silver man who turned blue skin#

Since at least the mid-19th century, doctors have known that silver or silver compounds can cause some areas of the skin and other body tissues to turn grey or blue-grey. Īrgyria worsens and builds up as exposure to silver continues, and does not resolve once exposure stops.

The reference dose, published by the United States Environmental Protection Agency in 1991, which represents the estimated daily exposure that is unlikely to incur an appreciable risk of deleterious effects during a lifetime, is 5 µg/(kg This is not life-threatening, but is considered by most to be cosmetically undesirable. Chronic ingestion or inhalation of silver preparations (especially colloidal silver) can lead to argyria in the skin and other organs. Silver is used in some medical appliances because of its anti-microbial nature, which stems from the oligodynamic effect. While silver is potentially toxic to humans at high doses, the risk of serious harm from low doses, given over a short term, is small. Generalized argyria results from chronically swallowing or inhaling silver compounds, either for home medicinal purposes, or as a result of working with silver or silver compounds. Localised argyria often results from topical use of substances containing silver, such as some kinds of eye drops. In the conjunctiva this is not generally harmful, but it also may affect the lens, leading to serious effects. This condition is known as argyria or argyrosis.Ĭhronic intake also may lead to silver pigments depositing in other organs exposed to light, particularly the eyes. Commonly these products deposit as microscopic particles in the skin, in effect a dark pigment. As in photography (where silver is useful because of its sensitivity to light), exposure of pale or colourless silver compounds to sunlight decomposes them to silver metal or silver sulfides. In humans and other animals, chronic intake of silver products commonly leads to gradual accumulation of silver compounds in various parts of the body. The term is from the Ancient Greek: ἄργυρος ( argyros, 'silver'). Argyrosis has been used particularly in referring to argyria of the conjunctiva, but the usage has never been consistent and cannot be relied on except where it has been explicitly specified. The terms argyria and argyrosis have long been used interchangeably, with argyria being used more frequently. Local argyria shows in limited regions of the body, such as patches of skin, parts of the mucous membrane or the conjunctiva. Generalized argyria affects large areas over much of the visible surface of the body. It may take the form of generalized argyria or local argyria. The most dramatic symptom of argyria is that the skin turns blue or blue-grey. Generalized argyria in a 92-year-old male.Īrgyria or argyrosis is a condition caused by excessive exposure to chemical compounds of the element silver, or to silver dust.