Aluminum health effects

Evidence of the relatively benign nature of aluminum dust in measured concentrations lies in the 27-year experience of administration of freshly milled metal particles to workers exposed to silica as a suggested means of inhibiting the development of silicosis. Inhalation of aluminum powder of particle size of 1.2 p, (96%), over 10- or 20-minute periods several times weekly, resulted in no adverse health effects among thousands of workers over several years. 

A number of objections have been raised to the use of the term. In the first place, the list of so-called heavy metals usually includes some elements that are not even metals, such as the semimetals arsenic and antimony. Also, some of the "heavy metals" are not really very "heavy" by almost any standard. Beryllium, for example, has an atomic mass of about 9, and aluminum, an atomic mass of about 27. Yet both are often classified as "heavy metals." For these reasons, some authorities now prefer the term toxic metals to the more traditional term heavy metals. Either term can refer to elements in both their free and combined states. The table on pages 120-121 provides an overview of the sources and health effects of some heavy metals,... 

Existing Information on Health Effects of Aluminum and Compounds... 

We do not know if aluminum will affect reproduction in people. Aluminum does not appear to affect reproduction in animals. Aluminum has not been shown to cause cancer in animals. To learn more about the health effects of aluminum exposure, see Chapter 2. 

Estimates of exposure levels posing minimal risk to humans (Minimal Risk Levels or MRLs) have been made for aluminum. An MRL is defined as an estimate of daily human exposure to a substance that is likely to be without an appreciable risk of adverse effects (noncarcinogenic) over a specified duration of exposure. MRLs are derived when reliable and sufficient data exist to identify the target organs(s) of effect or the most sensitive health effect(s) for a specific duration within a given route of exposure. MRLs are based on noncancer health effects only and do not reflect a consideration of carcinogenic effects. MRLs can be derived for acute, intermediate, and chronic duration exposure for inhalation and oral routes. Appropriate methodology does not exist to develop MRLs for dermal exposure. 

No studies were located regarding the following health effects in humans or animals after dermal exposure to various forms of aluminum ... 

The appropriateness of extrapolating health effects of aluminum in animals to humans cannot be conclusively determined due to limitations of the human database. Information on toxicity of aluminum in humans is not extensive because the preponderance of studies are in patients with reduced renal... 

Section 104(i)(5) of CERCLA, as amended, directs the Administrator of ATSDR (in consultation with the Administrator of EPA and agencies and programs of the Public Health Service) to assess whether adequate information on the health effects of aluminum is available. Where adequate information is not available, ATSDR, in conjunction with the NTP, is required to assure the initiation of a program of research designed to determine the health effects (and techniques for developing methods to determine such health effects) of aluminum... 

Reliable monitoring data for the levels of aluminum in contaminated media at hazardous waste sites are needed so that the information obtained on levels of aluminum in the environment can be used in combination with the known body burdens of aluminum to assess the potential risk of adverse health effects in populations living in the vicinity of hazardous waste sites. 

EPA. 1984e. Drinking Water Criteria Document for Aluminum. Office of Health and Environmental Assessment. Office of Drinking Water, Washington, D.C. External Review Draft. (As cited in EPLA 1987b—Health Effects Assessment for Aluminum). 

EPA. 1987b. Health Effects Assessment for aluminum. Cincinnati, OH U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Environmental Criteria and Assessment Office. EPA/600/8-88/016. 

GanrotPO. 1986. Metabolism and possible health effects of aluminum. Environ Health Perspect 65 363-441. 

Jeffery EH, Abreo K, Burgess E, et al. 1996. Systemic aluminum toxicity Effects on bone, hematopoietic tissue, and kidney. J Toxicol Environ Health 48 649-665. 

Krueger GL, Morris TK, Suskind RR, et al. 1984. The health effects of aluminum compounds in mammals. Crit Rev Toxicol 13 1-24. 

Nieboer E, Gibson BL, Oxman AD, et al. 1995. Health effects of aluminum A critical review with emphasis on aluminum in drinking water. Environ Rev 3 29-81. 

Aluminum has no known function in the human body. There is some debate, however, as to its possible health effects. Some health scientists suspect that aluminum may be associated with Alzheimer s disease. This is a condition that most commonly affects older people, leading to forgetfulness and loss of mental skills. It is still not clear whether aluminum plays any part in Alzheimer s disease. 

More than 15 additional trace elements are considered by some investigators to have a potentially important role in human medicine. A review by Nielsen considers these in detail and discusses emerging concepts of essentiality. For some such as lead, cadmium, arsenic, aluminum, and nickel, the clinical laboratory will primarily consider them as toxic elements (see Chapter 35). Others, such as lithium and fluoride, are classified as pharmacologically beneficial and monitoring of dosage may be required. Some elements can be considered nutritionally beneficial and are reported to produce restorative health effects at lower dosages. Evidence comes mainly from animal studies when dietary depletion of the element is combined with other metabohc, hormonal, or physiological stressors. ... 

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