Abstract
The biogeochemical cycle of silver has rarely been reviewed, even though the silver ion (Ag$^{\times}$) is extremly toxic to some organisms. Its concentration is still rising sharply because of increased anthropogenic activity, specifically the discharge from the film industry (mainly, silver thiosulfate: Ag (S$_2$O$_3$)${^3-}_2$). Recently, a number of researchers have quantified the major fluxes and reservoirs of silver in the open ocean, bays, and estuaries. A review of the available information for Ag cycling in the open ocean shows that the riverine input (from human activity and weathering processes: 7${\times}$10$^6$ kg/yr and 5${\times}$10$^6$ kg/yr, respectively) is the dominant source of Ag to estuarine and coastal regions. Most of the silver (90% of riverine input silver) is removed in coastal sediments by the physical-chemical character of silver due to its high partitioning with particulate matter. On the other hand, in the open ocean the atmospheric input (wet and dry deposition: 1.48${\times}$10$^6$ kg/yr and 1.94${\times}$ 10$^5$ kg/yr, respectively) becomes more important as a source of silver than riverine input. The residence time of silver calculated from available data is 1250 yrs in the deep ocean below 500 m, but only 3 yrs in the surface ocean.