BfR
|
Annual Report 2014
30
Consumers frequently come in contact with aluminium compounds in everyday life. These compounds
are already contained naturally in unprocessed foods and they continue to be used in food additives,
cosmetic products, food packagings, cooking utensils, drugs, pesticides and in the treatment of drinking
water. In 2014, the BfR focused mainly on the question of how much aluminium consumers ingest from
various sources. The Institute conducted various exposure estimations, risk assessments and experimental
examinations and derived measures to reduce individual aluminium intake.
Possible health risks through aluminium compounds
Aluminium is the third most common chemical element in the earth's
crust after oxygen and silicon but it does not play a role in any biologi-
cal processes in the human body. A high aluminium intake in excess of
the health based guidance value – the so-called TWI (tolerable weekly
intake) – is not safe from a toxicological point of view. Aluminium can
remain in the body for a very long time and enrich itself in the bone
substance in particular. A half life of up to 50 years has been estimated
from human studies. Aluminium also finds its way into organs such as
the brain, liver, skin and lymph nodes, however, and can reach the foetus
via the placenta. It is known from studies with animals that the nerv-
ous system is particularly sensitive to effects of aluminium exposure,
especially in development phases. Aluminium has also been detected
in breast milk. In rare instances, skin irritations and sensitisations to alu-
minium compounds have also been observed.
It has not yet been clarified conclusively whether aluminium plays a
role in the development of breast cancer and Alzheimer's disease. The
World Health Organisation (WHO) concluded in 1997 that the quanti-
ties of aluminium to which consumers are normally exposed are very
probably not causally related to Alzheimer's disease. To date, no causal
connection between the intake of aluminium from cosmetic products
and the emergence of cancer, in particular breast cancer, has been
scientifically proven either.
Aluminium in everyday life –
a health risk?
>>
Aluminium is
found in food
items, consumer
products such
as packaging and
cookware, and
in cosmetic items
and drugs.
