Silver and water: reaction mechanisms, environmental impact and health effects
Seawater contains approximately 2-100 ppt of
silver, and the surface concentration may be even lower. River water generally contains approximately 0.3-1 ppb of silver. The phytoplankton concentration is 0.1-1 ppm (dry mass), leading to a 10
4-10
5 bio concentration factor in seawater. In oyster tissue concentrations of approximately 890 ppm (dry mass) were found.
Dissolved in water silver mainly occurs as Ag
+ (aq), and in seawater as AgCl
2- (aq).
