This article, in the journal Clinica Chimica Acta, summarizes and critically assesses the current studies focusing on the adverse effects of silver nanoparticles (Ag NP) on human health. Silver nanoparticles are currently used in a wide array of consumer products from electronics, clothing, and paints, to sunscreens and medical devices. These broad applications increase human exposure and the potential risk related to their short- and long-term toxicity. A large number of in vitro studies have shown that Ag NPs are toxic to mammalian cells, with the potential to induce genes associated with cell cycle progression, DNA damage and apoptosis in human cells at non-cytotoxic doses.