Silver
Classification:
Silver is a chemical element.
Cas:
7440-22-4
Synonyms/Trade Names:
Argentum, C.I. 77820, Shell Silver; Argyrosiderosis.
Chemistry/Composition:
Ag .
Structure:
Cubic face centered.
Crystallographic Constants:
4.09 4.09 4.09 90.000 90.000 90.000.
Crystal Group:
Cubic.
Color:
Silver-white.
Optical Properties:
Opaque.
Pleochroism:
None.
Powder Diagram:
2.34 1.43 1.22 0.96
2.36 2.04 1.23 1.45 (4-783).
Natural Sources:
Mined in Canada, Mexico, Peru, and the USA.
Medical Importance:
Key Hazards:
Possibly fibrogenic, irritative.
Involved Organs:
Lung, upper respiratory tract.
Exposure/Epidemiology:
Persons working in silverware factories and exposed to abrasive dust are at risk.
Thresholds:
Etiology/Pathophysiology:
Silver polishing workers sometimes develop a pneumoconiosis, which is related to both the inhaled silver and iron oxide particles during the polishing process.
Lung Diseases:
Mild and severe lung fibrosis, and chronic bronchitis have been described.
Clinical Presentation:
Symptoms include cough, dyspnea, and sometimes progressive shortness of breath.
Radiology:
Chest radiographs display a fine, stippled pattern.
Lung Function:
Usually normal or mild restrictive changes are present.
Bronchoalveolar Lavage:
Usually normal findings.
Pathology:
Gross:
The lungs may be of normal color and consistency, or display fibrotic changes of various degrees.
Histology:
The inhaled agents, iron dioxide and silver, are usually separated by the pulmonary defence mechanisms. Deposits of iron dioxide particles are usually seen within the perivascular interstitial tissue, those of silver within the distant airways. The silver particles are black in HE-stained slides.
Prognosis:
Usually good and without serious sequelae.
Additional Diseases:
None.
References:
search Pubmed for Silver
Braknova IT: Studies in soviet science: environmental hazards of metals. Consultants Bureau, New York (1975)
Fowler BA, Nordberg GF: Silver. In: L Friberg, GF Nordberg, VB Vouk (Eds): Handbook on the toxicology of metals. Elsevier, Amsterdam, New York (1990)
Fraser RG, Paré JAP: Diagnosis of diseases of the chest. WB Saunders Comp, London, Toronto (1979)
Kayser K: Analytical Lung Pathology. Springer, Heidelberg, New York (1992)
Lewis RJ: Carcinogenically active chemicals. Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York (1991)
Rom WN (Ed): Occupational and environmental medicine. Little, Brown and Comp, Boston (1983)
Steininger H, Langer E, Stömmer P: Generalisierte Argyrose. Dtsch Med Wschr 115 81990) 657-662
Wölbing RH, Milbradt R, Schopenhauer-German E, Euler G, König KH: Argyrose bei Beschäftigten der silberverarbeitenden Industrie . Arbeitsmed Sozialmed Präventivmed 23 (1988) 293-297