GREEN blog.
We all know that Norwex BacLock ® microfibre has the ability to remove up to 99 % of bacteria from a surface with only water *, then the micro silver in the wet cloth goes to work using its self purification properties against mould, fungi and bacterial odour within 24 hours. However, over the last few years there has been concern that nano-silver could cause unknown problems both to ourselves and to our environment. But did you know there’ s a difference between“ nano-silver” and the“ micro-silver” used by Norwex?
Micro-silver and nano-silver( a thousand times smaller in scale than micro-silver) are being used in products from medical bandages to washing machines, to toothbrushes and toothpastes, to anti-pathogen sprays applied to the Hong Kong transit system.
Despite the increased interest, nano-silver’ s reputation, not unlike it’ s base element, is not immune to tarnish. Several studies over the past three decades point to potential harmful effects of nano-silver on marine life, good bacteria in water bodies and soil and to the human body, and increased strain on municipal water treatment systems to process increased nano-silver in wastewater.
Research has also pointed out that antibiotic effectiveness is increased 20 %-70% when using silver against test bacteria strains. Not only was silver found to be effective in prohibiting the growth of five of the six bacteria strains tested, it was also found to be most effective against MRSA and MRSE, two well known“ super bugs” resistant to antibiotics.
Norwex uses micro-silver in its cloths, which has greatly decreased ill effects compared to nanosilver. Micro-silver, due to its size at a thousand times larger than nano-silver, can not penetrate the skin. It is a form of silver which is physically and chemically embedded within the microfibre itself, so that it does not leach out of the fibre into the environment – it is basically in there for the life of the cloth – which is why it is so safe to use – because we are not leaving silver where we use the cloth.
So while silver has caught a bad wrap over the last few years, you can feel safe using Norwex BacLock ® microfibres, as they don’ t contain nanosilver, and the small amount of silver( less than 1mg) that breaks down during the life of a cloth is incredibly minute.
* When following the proper care and use instructions.
www. norwexmovement. com
Ryan Pedlow
Marketing Manager
14 MISSION. green blog