Storing water with a silver coin or other silver objects has been practiced for centuries and is believed to offer several potential benefits due to silver’s antimicrobial properties.
Here’s a breakdown of the perceived benefits:
- Antimicrobial Action: Silver is a known antimicrobial agent, meaning it can kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Silver ions, released from the silver object into the water, disrupt microbial cell functions, including DNA replication and cell membrane integrity, ultimately leading to cell death. This property can help keep stored water fresh and prevent the growth of harmful microorganisms.
- Water Preservation: By inhibiting microbial growth, silver can extend the shelf life of stored water, making it safer to drink for longer periods compared to water stored without silver.
- Potential Health Benefits (Traditional Beliefs): In some traditional systems like Ayurveda, storing and drinking water from silver vessels is believed to offer various health benefits, including balancing the body’s energies (doshas), boosting the immune system, improving digestion, and possessing anti-inflammatory properties. However, these traditional beliefs generally lack strong scientific evidence.
- Improved Water Quality (Indirectly): While silver primarily acts against microorganisms, it’s also integrated into modern water filtration systems, often combined with activated carbon, [www.watertechonline.com says] to remove other contaminants like chlorine, lead, and odors.
Important Considerations:
- Safety and Concentration: The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that silver concentrations in drinking water should not exceed 0.1 mg/liter to avoid potential health risks. Excessive intake of silver can lead to a condition called argyria, which causes the skin to turn blue or gray. It’s crucial to be mindful of the type and amount of silver used for water storage or purification.
- Not a Standalone Purification Method: While silver has antimicrobial properties, it’s generally not considered a comprehensive water purification method on its own. For effective purification, especially of potentially contaminated water, silver should be used in conjunction with other methods like filtration (e.g., using activated carbon or ceramic filters) to remove other contaminants.
- Scientific Evidence: While historical practices and anecdotal evidence suggest benefits, strong scientific evidence for many of the specific health claims beyond antimicrobial action is still lacking.
In essence, using a silver coin or vessel in water primarily leverages silver’s antimicrobial properties to help keep the water safe for consumption for a longer period. While traditional beliefs suggest other health advantages, it’s crucial to be aware of the safety guidelines regarding silver concentration and to consider using silver as part of a multi-step water purification process rather than as a sole method.
Is silver in water good for you?
Silver is a well-known and scientifically validated antibacterial agent. There are also no documented negative health effects caused by drinking water with trace amounts of silver in it. How much effect a couple coins in the water tank would have, I can’t say.
Do silver coins kill bacteria?
Silver has inherent antimicrobial properties, i.e. it kills microorganisms and viruses. The ancient Romans already used silver coins to clean water jugs from microbes, and now we treat architectural hardware, furniture and other products with silver to stop microscopic organisms and viruses from growing.
What happens when silver is in water?
Silver does not react with pure water. Is is stable in both water and air. Moreover, it is acid and base resistant, but it corrodes when it comes in contact with sulphur compounds. Under normal conditions silver is water insoluble.