What is Aluminum? Aluminum or aluminium, is the most abundant element in the Earth's crust and third most abundant in every layer thereafter. Aluminum makes up about 8% of the Earth's total weight of the solid surface. Because of aluminum's reactive nature, it is not found naturally by itself, but combined with over 270 other minerals including: silicon, fluorine, and the chief source of aluminum, bauxite ore.
Where is Aluminum Used?
Aluminum has been used commercially for over 100 years, in fact, the capstone on the Washington Monument is entirely aluminum. Aluminum is currently the most widely used non-ferrous (lead based) metal on Earth. Because of its malleability and its light-weight properties aluminum is used for:
- Transportation
- Packaging
- Water Treatment
- Construction
- Electrical Lines
- And many other applications
How does Aluminum enter the Body?
Because of the abundance of aluminum on the Earth, there is some in almost all air, soil, water and food that people come into contact with daily. The most common ways that aluminum enters the body include inhalation through aluminum contaminated dust, especially around factories using aluminum, ingesting aluminum in antacids and citrus drinks. Aluminum is also used in antiperspirants where some researchers believe it may lead to breast cancer, and small amounts of aluminum exposure comes from various vaccinations.
What Happens when Aluminum enters the Body?
Exposure to aluminum is usually not harmful in small amounts, but prolonged exposure and high levels of aluminum exposure can cause serious health problems. These problems include:
Exposure to aluminum is usually not harmful in small amounts, but prolonged exposure and high levels of aluminum exposure can cause serious health problems. These problems include:
- Lung problems
- Decreased nervous system function
- Skin rashes
- May lead to Alzheimer's
- Osteopenia
- Neurotoxicity
Avoiding Exposure to Aluminum.
Because aluminum is so abundant on the Earth, it is almost impossible to completely avoid exposure to aluminum. Steps that can be taken to avoid over exposure include reducing use of antacids, using water filters, and avoiding over exposure to dust containing aluminum.
Because aluminum is so abundant on the Earth, it is almost impossible to completely avoid exposure to aluminum. Steps that can be taken to avoid over exposure include reducing use of antacids, using water filters, and avoiding over exposure to dust containing aluminum.
Testing for aluminum exposure can be performed at a doctor's office using blood, feces, bone, or urine. To actually measure the amount of aluminum in the body, special equipment must be used that is not readily found in most doctor's offices.
For more information on Aluminum, check out these references.
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