Aluminum Toxicity

Excerpt

Aluminum (Al) is widely used in everyday life and is the most abundant metal in the earth's crust, occurring in various forms. Although aluminum has no known biological role in humans, it is present in concentrations similar to essential metals, such as copper. Human exposure to aluminum has increased since the rise of industrialization due to exposure from cosmetic and antiperspirant products, food packaging (such as beverage cans), food additives, drinking water, medications (such as phosphate binders), total parenteral nutrition (TPN), vaccines, pesticides, aerosols, and dialysate.

Aluminum toxicity is a significant concern for patients with renal insufficiency, who cannot efficiently clear the metal, and those with heavy industrial exposure. While aluminum toxicity primarily affects the nervous system and bones, it can impact nearly every organ system. Aluminum's neurotoxicity was demonstrated by high levels found in the brains of encephalopathic dialysis patients, resulting from accumulation in contaminated dialysate.