Plants, terrestrial silver

Silver is a normal trace constituent of many organisms (Smith and Carson 1977). In terrestrial plants, silver concentrations are usually less than 1.0 mg/kg ash weight (equivalent to less than 0.1 mg/kg DW) and are higher in trees, shrubs, and other plants near regions of silver mining. Seeds, nuts, and fruits usually contain higher silver concentrations than other plant parts (USEPA 1980). Silver accumulations in marine algae (max. 14.1 mg/kg DW) are due mainly to adsorption rather than uptake bioconcentration factors of 13,000 to 66,000 are not uncommon (USPHS 1990 Ratte 1999). 

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