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. 2007;191:23–45. doi: 10.1007/978-0-387-69163-3_2

Silver as a Disinfectant

Nadia Silvestry-Rodriguez 12, Enue E Sicairos-Ruelas 13, Charles P Gerba 13, Kelly R Bright 13,✉
PMCID: PMC7120063  PMID: 17708071

Abstract

The antimicrobial effects of silver (Ag) have been recognized for thousands of years. In ancient times, it was used in water containers (Grier 1983) and to prevent putrefaction of liquids and foods. In ancient times in Mexico, water and milk were kept in silver containers (Davis and Etris 1997). Silver was also mentioned in the Roman pharmacopoeia of 69 b.c. (Davis and Etris 1997).

Keywords: Water Distribution System, Cool Tower, Free Chlorine, Silver Sulfadiazine, Drinking Water Disinfection

Footnotes

Communicated by Dr. Charles P. Gerba.

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