CI 77820; Silver

(in 736 products)

1. Antiseptic / Disinfectant - Prevents growth of unwanted microorganisms.

2. Colorant - Pigments or dyes that are added in order to change or enhance the color.

3. Drug / Medicine - Treats, alleviates, cures, or prevents sickness. As officially declared by a governmental drug/medicine regulatory body

Silver has been used for thousands of years as ornaments and utensils, for trade, and as the basis for many monetary systems. Of all the metals, pure silver has the whitest color, the highest optical reflectivity, and the highest thermal and electrical conductivity. Also, silver halides are photosensitive. Owing to the above properties, silver has many industrial applications such as in mirrors, electrical and electronic products, and photography, which is the largest single end use of silver. Silver's catalytic properties make it ideal for use as a catalyst in oxidation reactions; for example, the production of formaldehyde from methanol and air by means of silver screens or crystallites containing a minimum of 99.95% silver. [1]

Pure silver metal is used as a food coloring (E174) and is approved in the EU. it is also used as color additives and exempt from certification and permanently listed for cosmetics use in the US. Traditional Pakistani and Indian dishes sometimes include decorative silver foil known as vark and in various other cultures, silver dragée are used to decorate cakes, cookies, and other dessert items. [1]

There is potential for silver nanoparticles to induce apoptosis through "the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and JNK activation [c-Jun N-terminal kinase]". [2] The antimicrobial mechanism of nanosilver has not yet been comprehensively researched.

Silver nanoparticles at 5–50 μg/ml have been shown to decrease "mitochondrial function" in cells while also showing size abnormality, shape abnormality, and cellular shrinkage. [3] The same was not observed in iron, molybdenum, aluminum, and titanium nanoparticles. [3]

Argyria is a "rare dermatological condition caused by silver deposits". [4] Depending on the silver's salt, its half-life could range from days to years. "One case described a patient who had biopsy-proven argyria 22 years after discontinuing a 3-year course of colloidal silver nasal spray use". [4] As there are currently no effective chelating procedures to treat argyria [4], it is vital to reduce the possibility of silver bioaccumulation.

However, in a separate study involving rats, short-term inhalation of aerosolized nanosilver particles presented no changes in pulmonary or cardiovascular parameters. [5]

1. PubChem: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/23954

2. The apoptotic effect of nanosilver is mediated by a ROS- and JNK-dependent mechanism involving the mitochondrial pathway in NIH3T3 cells. (Toxicol. Lett., 179(3), 130–139. doi:10.1016/j.toxlet.2008.04.015)

3. In vitro toxicity of nanoparticles in BRL 3A rat liver cells. (Toxicol. In Vitro, 19(7), 0–983. doi:10.1016/j.tiv.2005.06.034)

4. Cases of Argyria Associated With Colloidal Silver Use. (Ann. Pharmacother., (1-4), 106002801984425–.) doi:10.1177/1060028019844258

5. Pulmonary and Cardiovascular Responses of Rats to Inhalation of Silver Nanoparticles. (J. Toxicol. Environ. Health Part A, 76(11), 651–668.) doi:10.1080/15287394.2013.792024

1. EPA Pesticide Registration List N: Disinfectants for Use Against Coronaviruses (https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2) - Silver ion

2. South Korea - Ministry of Food and Drug Safety - Prohibited/Restricted Chemicals

- Ref: 1240

3. CANADA INGREDIENT HOTLIST, List of Ingredients that are Restricted for Use in Cosmetic Products [2019]

- Silver and its salts

4. EU CosIng Annex IV, COLORANTS ALLOWED IN COSMETIC PRODUCTS [2017]

- Ref: IV/142

5. US FDA Color Additives Status List [2015]

6. EU Approved Food Additive [2018]

- E174

7. Association of Southeast Asian Nations Annex IV - Part 1, Allowed Colorants

- CI 77820