The Swedish Environmental Research Institute Ltd. (IVL) and the Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU) have performed a "screening study" of silver during 2007 as an assignment from the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency. Silver is a precious noble metal long used as jewellery, for ornament and as a coin metal. Silver may appear as solid waste from applications in electronic industry, in batteries, mirror glass etc. However, it is mainly the uses in photographic applications and as antiseptic for medical purposes and in consumer products, that are of environmental concern. While the use in photography will decrease due to the development of digital cameras, the use as antimicrobial agent in consumer products may increase. The overall objective of the screening was to determine the concentrations of silver in some compartments of the Swedish environment, focusing on the release into the aquatic environment. The program included measurements in background areas and close to potential point sources and areas affected by diffuse sources. Sample types included untreated and treated municipal sewage wastewaters, landfill leakage waters, sludge, and surface water samples. In addition, samples of fish muscle were analysed.
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