Aluminum is a chemical element commonly found in the earth’s crust. It has been used since ancient times in the form of salts and oxides; as a separate element it was distinguished in the second half of the XNUMXth century. The common name for aluminum – aluminum – was adopted in the early XNUMXth century. Under room conditions, aluminum is a silvery-white metal, with a relatively low density and flexible structure. As a result, aluminum is easy to process and is used, among others, in foundry. The most common aluminum compounds are aluminum oxide and aluminum hydroxide.
Aluminum is also used to create aluminum alloys used in various industries. They are primarily used in the production of car engines, body parts, fragments of aircraft structures, spacecraft, beverage cans, core structures in nuclear reactors, mirrors and aluminum food foil. The latter product is a special way of using aluminum. Food foil is used almost all over the globe to cover the surface of various objects – mainly food – in order to store it aseptically as possible. Aluminum foil is also used as a thermal screen, as it allows the temperature of what is packed in it to be kept at a temperature. Most often, aluminum foil is about half a millimeter thick.
Aluminum and the health of the human body
Aluminum is absorbed in the human body by the liver and is excreted outside through the kidneys along with urine. In the body of a healthy adult human, not suffering from a deficiency of any of the essential elements, aluminum does not pose a threat to proper functioning. It is believed that daily consumption of a dose not exceeding 45 mg of aluminum is completely safe.
As a result, aluminum is commonly used in gastronomy in the form of aluminum food foil. Since the 80s, dishes and other kitchen utensils have not been made of aluminum due to the fact that it is easily soluble in water. Foods cooked or served in aluminum dishes could soak up an excess of this element.
Too much aluminum in the body
Aluminum does not show excessively toxic effects on the human body. Even so, its excess is not welcome and may cause some harm to your health.
The excess of aluminum primarily affects the work of the human nervous system. Lumps of this element can accumulate in the brain, where they impair the functioning of the nervous system, block some of the enzymes, and react with DNA in nerve tissue cells. This type of damage is irreversible. The excess of aluminum can then cause symptoms such as memory, concentration and balance disorders as well as tissue calcification, anemia of cell membranes or loss of elasticity.
In addition, the excessive amount of aluminum overloads the liver and disrupts its proper functioning. This situation is particularly dangerous in the case of children and adolescents. In a developing organism, excess aluminum can inhibit the development of the liver and the growth of the skeletal system. For the latter reason, excessive consumption of products containing high doses of aluminum is not recommended for people suffering from fractures or patients with bone decalcification.
In addition to the anomalies related to the work of the nervous system and the liver, the most common symptoms indicating the excess presence of aluminum in the human body include:
- excessive sweating
- feeling weak
- nausea,
- digestive system disorders,
- anemia.
It should be noted, however, that aluminum poisoning occurs extremely rarely. In fact, it is possible only as a result of consuming a large amount of food that contained this element. Sometimes aluminum poisoning occurs as a result of the absorption of plants that mature in soil rich in this element, for example in heavily acidified soil. In addition, aluminum can be found in highly processed products, spices and products stored in cardboard lined with aluminum foil.
The situation of excessive accumulation of aluminum in the human body may occur when the consumption of this element is 60 or more mg per day. Here is a list of products that contain large amounts of aluminum:
- tea,
- coffee,
- cereals,
- flour,
- black pepper,
- sugar,
- baking powder,
- milk,
- canned beverages and food.
To significantly reduce the presence of aluminum in the diet, it is worth eliminating all products sold and stored in aluminum foil or lined cartons. You should also pay attention to the composition of cosmetics that we use for daily hygiene. Much of them may contain aluminum. It should be noted that aluminum is absorbed by our body through the alimentary tract, as well as through the skin and respiratory system.