Article: How to Reduce Aluminum Exposure and Protect Your Health: Risks & Prevention Tips

Share

How to Reduce Aluminum Exposure and Protect Your Health: Risks & Prevention Tips

Aluminium – it's everywhere, right? This metal is a mainstay of modern life, from your trusty kettle to that can of fizzy drink. But what if the abundance of this everyday material secretly harms your health and the environment?

We need to be aware of the extent of the threat that awaits us in products that are widely considered to be safe. Aluminium can be found in tap water, evaporated salt, white sugar (which bees sometimes refuse to consume), and even in baking powder and flour that we use for baking cookies or cakes. Bread and pasta that we buy in the supermarket are sadly also potential sources of Aluminium. This is particularly true for those produced from standardised flours, with added bleaches, which are a source of aluminium.

How Does Aluminium Get Into Your Body?

You might be surprised at the everyday sources of aluminium exposure:

Your Diet: Think processed foods, tap water (sometimes!), and even food packaging.

Everyday Products: That roll-on deodorant? Your favourite non-stick pan? Yep, likely culprits!

Medical Treatments: Aluminium compounds pop up in antacids, vaccines, and some other medications.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) advises that aluminium intake should not exceed 1 mg per kilogram of body weight per week. Yet, without realising it, many people far surpass this limit through their daily routines.

Stay informed, take proactive steps, and reduce unnecessary exposure to safeguard your health. Keep reading to find out how!

Is Aluminium Affecting Your Health?

While aluminium is generally considered safe at low levels, long-term exposure might be linked to some serious health concerns:

Brain Fog: Studies have found aluminium in the brains of people with Alzheimer's. While the link isn't fully clear, it's food for thought.

Lung Problems: Breathing in aluminium dust (more of a risk in industrial settings) can cause coughing, scarring, and breathing difficulties.

Weak Bones & Kidney Issues: Over time, aluminium can interfere with how your cells work, potentially harming your kidneys and bones.

Cancer Concerns: The jury's still out on this one, but some studies have found higher aluminium levels in the breast tissue of cancer patients.

Aluminium is not an essential element for the human body, and it doesn't serve any biological function. People are typically exposed to 3-10mg of aluminium daily through food and water. The World Health Organization (WHO) sets the safe intake limit at 1mg per kilogram of body weight per week, meaning about 10mg per day for someone weighing 70kg. Despite this, aluminium is commonly found in personal care products, including sunscreens, often as an inactive ingredient.

When applied to the skin, aluminium can act as an oxidant. Under sunlight, it may contribute to oxidative stress, which could increase the risk of skin damage and even skin cancer over time. In one study, a sunscreen was found to contain up to 200mg of aluminium in a single application—far surpassing the average daily intake from food. This raises concerns about its long-term safety and potential for harmful accumulation in the body, especially given the frequent use of sunscreen in daily skincare routines.

A new official report from the Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung, or Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) in Berlin, Germany, indicates that while dietary exposure to aluminum compounds has been on the decline, people still ingest a relatively high amount of aluminum from other sources, which may prove harmful to health.

BfR researchers present their findings on Aluminium exposure in a study paper that appears in the journal Archives of Toxicology. Thomas Tietz is the first author of the study The most important non-dietary intake source of aluminum is dermal [skin] exposure from cosmetics, especially antiperspirants, which, according to a previous exposure estimation, may reach or even exceed the [tolerable weekly intake] derived by EFSA,” the team cautions.

Instead of debating how much aluminium is too much and relying on regulatory bodies to determine safe levels, why not simply remove it from products where it’s not necessary? Eliminating aluminium from sunscreens and other personal care items would help reduce the risks of accumulation in the body. With consumers becoming increasingly aware of what they put on their skin, the presence of aluminium is driving a shift toward safer, non-toxic alternatives.

Fight Back Against Aluminium Overload!

The good news? You can take control! Here's how to minimise your aluminium exposure:

Ditch the Aluminium Cookware: Opt for stainless steel, cast iron, or glass instead.
Choose Fresh Food: The less processed your food, the better!
Read Labels Carefully: Look for aluminium-free deodorants and other personal care products.
Recycle, Recycle, Recycle: This helps reduce aluminium waste and its environmental impact.
Support Stricter Regulations: Let your MP know you care about reducing industrial aluminium pollution.

Aluminium's Environmental Impact:

It's not just about our health. Aluminium production is energy-intensive and can lead to pollution of our air, water, and soil. Over 590 sites in the U.S. are contaminated with aluminium, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). While the UK doesn't have quite the same scale of issue, we still need to be vigilant!

Aluminium-Aware Future ✨

Aluminium is woven into the fabric of our lives, but we don't have to accept the risks that come with it. By making informed choices and demanding better practices, we can create a healthier future for ourselves and the planet.