Aluminum and its effects on human body

 Aluminum and its effects on human body

Even though aluminum is found everywhere - air, water, earth - have made sure the amount that our body absorbs it, because he is suspected of having harmful effects on nervous system diseases.

Aluminum is a metal that is found in abundance on Earth, we encounter the earth, water, air. Its chemical and physical properties give it many utilities. In this sense we can mention its use and its compounds in foods (as additive), the medication (antacids), in consumer products and drinking water treatment. Because of its abundance in the environment, it is practically inevitable, and researchers began to study more time since its effects on human beings.

The addition of aluminum encephalopathy

This research has highlighted a link between aluminum intake and encephalopathy (organic brain disease) those under dialysis. In recent years, and the press have been worried about the harmful effects of aluminum on human health, especially trying to find out the role of aluminum in Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig disease). Also, have put question marks on the potential risks that occur in infants who are fed breast milk containing aluminum.

To what extent we are exposed to aluminum

Because aluminum is ubiquitous in the environment and used in various products and processes, it is inevitable that people are exposed to them every day.

Aluminium in food

Aluminium is naturally present in many foods, but generally are in small quantities. Teas, for example, accumulate large amounts of aluminum that can be released through their leaves in infusions. It can also be inserted into food, even that which is found in containers, to cooking utensils and packaging, but has been shown that this is a negligible quantity.

Certain foods, like dairy products, grains and cereals, desserts and drinks can have higher levels of aluminum than normal due to the use of food additives contain aluminum compounds (eg sodium aluminum phosphate). Use of these additives is controlled to avoid their use in excessive amounts.

Daily intake of aluminum from the food rises around 8 milligrams for an adult, though some estimates indicate higher levels. Overall, nearly 95 percent of normal for an adult intake of aluminum comes from food. For a baby, daily intake of aluminum up to 1 mg.

Aluminium of drugs

Daily intake can increase significantly for persons who administer the maximum dose-and aluminum-based medicines are not prescribed by doctors and demand that are sold in pharmacies as antacids and buffered aspirin. World Health Organization has estimated that the contribution of those who regularly consume this type of aluminum-based drugs may increase up to 5 grams per day.

Drinking water contains aluminum

Most of the plants of surface water treatment in Canada, for example, using aluminum sulfate to eliminate harmful microorganisms and other particles that contain them can be easily destroyed by sedimentation and filtration. This process also increases the organic matter present naturally in water, which reduces the formation of disinfection nonproduselor. These result from the reaction of chemicals used for disinfection (eg chlorine) and organic matter present in water, they may still be a cause of cancer.

For aluminum sulfate used in water treatment is largely eliminated by a more advanced stage of the process, the aluminum concentration of the treated water is slightly higher than in the untreated.

Thus, daily intake of aluminum in drinking water does not exceed 5 percent of total daily intake for an adult. Actual intake may vary widely from one corner of a country to another depending on water quality (natural presence of aluminum in water) use and effectiveness of the treatment process treatment plant operation.

It is generally believed that the aluminum of untreated water from natural origin is in a form that is easily assimilated by the body and causes no adverse health effects. During the treatment process, aluminum sulphate, aluminum is transformed into a form that can be easily assimilated.

The amount of aluminum in the bottled water and tap ranges. In certain types of aluminum can be found bottled water because it is present in source water. Some manufacturers of bottled water uses tap water, with or without additional treatments, if aluminum is found in tap water is encountered in the bottle.

Aluminum also has polluted air

Aluminum intake comes from unpolluted air rises at least 4 micrograms per day. In industrial areas where the aluminum from the air is much higher contribution may amount to less than 100 micrograms per day. At work, workers can breathe 3, 5-7 milligrams of aluminum per day.

Water, more important than food

If it is true that much of Zinic aluminum intake comes from food, only a small percentage - usually less than 1 percent - is absorbed by the body.

Absorption depends on many factors, including type of aluminum compounds, food composition, age and the health of the person.

Aluminium in drinking water is better absorbed by the body (ie, more bioavailable) as aluminum which is in foods, even if the first case there is a small amount of total daily intake. This means that water can be a more important source of aluminum for food.

Aluminum-related health risks

It was felt since long ago as less toxic aluminum, healthy people being able to tolerate oral doses of up to 7 grams per day without harmful effects occur. On the other hand, many data now indicate that aluminum may cause adverse consequences for human and animal nervous system.

Persons under dialysis encephalopathy

Patients suffering from kidney disease and receive regular dialysis treatments and which consequently may be exposed to high levels of aluminum in dialysis fluids and medications can manifest encephalopathy, a form of dementia characterized by tremor, seizures, psychosis and other changes in the speech and behavior. Most of the experts think the high levels of aluminum in dialysis fluids and medications are causes of dementia, and control significantly reduces levels of the disease incidents.

Alzheimer's Disease

In Canada, for example, Alzheimer's disease is the most common primary degenerative dementia and a major cause of deaths. The first symptoms to recognize this disease, which indicates the beginning of a progressive mental deterioration, are memory loss, disorientation and depression.

Researchers have studied various theories to determine the causes of disease. These theories take into account genetic factors, abnormal proteins, infectious agents, agents in the environment such as aluminum, other metals and solvents and metabolic changes. There are increasingly more evidence that indicates an interaction between genetic predisposition and aging, for example, and the series of events triggers the disease.

A possible cause of Alzheimer's disease

It was indicated that exposure to aluminum is a possible cause of Alzheimer's disease because the brain cells of patients suffering from this disease can contains 10-30 times more aluminum than the average. However, it was not clear whether the accumulation of aluminum is the cause or result of disease.

Several studies on humans have shown a slightly increased risk of disease or related dementia in the collectivity of drinking water containing high concentrations of aluminum. In contrast, other studies showed no association between the presence of aluminum in drinking water and occurrence of dementia. Moreover, laboratory animals that were exposed to aluminum researchers could not thereby cause changes in brain disease type mentioned above and could not explain the absence of changes in the brains of Alzheimer type patients suffering from encephalopathy. Other studies have shown the existence or nonexistence of a small aluminum accumulation in brain tissue of patients suffering from this disease.

After having reviewed all the data, experts have concluded that, even if it is not possible to prove a direct link between disease and the strong concentration of aluminum in drinking water, can not be ruled out especially for the elderly.

Lou Gehrig's and Parkinson's Diseases

Aluminum has been associated with other serious diseases affecting the nervous system, such as Lou Gehrig's and Parkinson's diseases. As with Alzheimer's disease, the existence of an association, even if it was done, it is not known. A high probability of disease is made from the indigenous population of Guam and New Zealand, suggesting a correlation between these diseases and environmental conditions that exist, especially the high levels of aluminum and low calcium and magnesium in the soil encountered in food. Just as is true for Alzheimer's disease, where sick people have a high level of aluminum in some areas of the brain, even if it was shown that this causes the appearance of the disease. Have directed attention to other possible factors triggering the disease, such as diet of the population of Guam and genetic factors, especially those who do not relate to the environment.

Other diseases with the same cause

Absorption than aluminum can cause anemia, osteomalacia (soft bones sfarimicioase because of profound disturbances in the metabolism of phosphorus and calcium in bone), heart attacks.

The amount of aluminum used in kitchen utensils and aluminum foil used in food is generally negligible

Manufacturers do not find convenient food additives, having the same technical effects, to replace the aluminum-containing additives

Until today, no study has shown that aluminum-based drugs would cause adverse effects ingurgitate



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