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world gathers for metal finishing
Q&As since 1989


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After the juice corrodes the metal can the juice make you sick?

I am a college student, but this is pure curiosity. My dad swears that my mom accidentally poisoned him by serving and storing lemonade in a silver pitcher. Is this possible?

Kirsten Yost
College Student - N.Y., N.Y., USA
2005

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First of two simultaneous responses --

Well there are silver salts which are toxic and if the silver did indeed dissolve enough in the lemonade (which I'm doubting) it would become a salt of some type. Best way to find out is to get your dad a blood test.

At least he was poisoned in style! (sorry, I hope he's better already)

Peter Van de Luecht
- Melbourne, Vic, Australia
2005

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Second of two simultaneous responses --

I would say it would depend on a few factors.....is plated silver,nickel,chrome,zinc,rhodium? Possibly it is not plated at all? It could have been buffed to a silver like finish? Is it sterling silver? How long was this liqid in the pitcher,is it made for serving or is it a decrative piece? These are a few questions that I would need to make to give a "more accurate answer Kirsten. But just a quick answer, I would say it is definitely possible that your father could have gotten some sort of metal contamination from the pitcher.

Regards,

Brian C. Gaylets
McKinney Mfg.-Assa Abloy U.S.A. - Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
2005