Silver Nano

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Silver Nano

Hangul	은나노
Hanja	銀-
Revised Romanization	eun nano
McCune-Reischauer	ŭn nano

Silver Nano (Silver Nano Health System) is a trademark name of an antibacterial technology which uses silver nanoparticles in washing machines, refrigerators, air conditioners, air purifiers and vacuum cleaners introduced by Samsung in April 2003.^[1]

1 Beneficial claims
2 Environmental concerns
3 Health concerns
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Beneficial claims

Samsung home appliances such as refrigerator or air conditioner with silver nano coating to their inner surfaces for an overall anti-bacterial and anti-fungal effect. As air circulates, the coated surfaces contact with the silver ions which can resist any airborne bacteria, which in turn suppress the respiration of bacteria, adversely affects bacteria’s cellular metabolism and inhibits cell growth.^[2]^[3]

They maintains that the silver nano technology sterilises over 650 types of bacteria and a "Samsung WM1245A Washing Machine releases over 400 billion silver ions which penetrate deeply into fabrics of any kind and create a coat of sterilizing protection for a maximum of 99.99% disinfection and an added antibacterial effect of up to 30 days after washing".^[4]

According to Paul Lipscomb, Product Manager, White Goods, Samsung Australia: “The Silver Wash system means that it’s no longer necessary to soak clothes in additives or wash at extremely high temperatures in order to sanitise them. This combined with Samsung front loading washing machine’s industry leading water efficiency ratings of up to 5A, creates a major saving on the long term cost of running the washing machine.”^[5]

In 2005 the Korean Consumer Protection Board, published test results—according to which—Samsung’s Silver Wash technology has no superior sterilization effect, as the company claims in advertisements, when compared with similar drum-type washers of LG Electronics, Daewoo Electronics, and Whirlpool.^[6]

[edit] Environmental concerns

Concerns have been raised, however, over the use and marketing of washing machines using the silver nano technology. The German branch of Friends of the Earth, Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland (BUND), has warned consumers not to buy a new type of washing machine that uses silver nanoparticles. BUND criticized the product, noting that considerable amounts of silver could enter sewage plants and seriously trouble the biological purification process of waste water.

In addition, silver nanoparticles were claimed to have a toxic effect on different kinds of living cells.^[7]^[8] Samsung countered that only an accumulated amount of 0.05 grams of silver is released per machine, per year, while the released silver-ions quickly bind to non-nano-sized structures in the water.^[9]

[edit] Health concerns

Korea Times quotes Hwang Ee-taek, a co-author of the paper stating that firms like Samsung and LG Electronics started from the idea that silver-nanoparticles kill bacteria and they actually do. But scientists are still unsure of whether they are safe for humans. This field of research is still at a very rudimentary stage.^[10]

However in another new, Hong Kong University researchers believe that silver nano may hold a solution to one of China’s worst health concerns, the spread of hepatitis B, which can cause liver cancer and liver failure. The silver nano-particles have another advantage since it is unlikely that HBV can become resistant to silver nano-particles because the interaction is determined by the physicochemical properties of the tiny particles. The study is still in the laboratory stage and any findings it may generate are still three to five years away from clinic use. ^[11]^[12]^[13]