Whether on Deodorant, toothpaste, or food packaging – there are many ways in which aluminum in the body can get. Experts from the Federal Institute for risk assessment (BfR) have now estimated for the first time, how much aluminum people in Germany overall record. Therefore, for persons in all age groups are at risk to exceed the safe current amounts clearly.
Aluminium is, after oxygen and silicon, the third most abundant Element in the earth’s crust. The light metal is naturally present in drinking water and foods such as fruit and vegetables, cereals, legumes, tea, cocoa or coffee. In addition, it can be also used in food additives, cosmetics penetrate into the body or uncoated trays, grill trays, aluminum foil and baking trays for the food to pass.
To any health to suspend risk, it is not recommended by the European food safety authority Efsa, more than a milligram of Aluminium per kilogram of body weight and week. A majority of the population get to be alone with his food already half of this amount, writes the BfR in his study in the journal “Archives of Toxicology”. This is especially true for adolescents and adults.
Who is particularly at risk to exceed the recommended amounts?
As the risk groups which are particularly subjected to a lot of aluminum, include, according to the BfR:
- Babiesnot exclusively breastfed, or small children with special soy-based, lactose-free or hypoallergenic food is fed. In addition, infants and young children aluminum via vaccinations to take. These “have a high health Benefit,” writes the BfR. In addition, the exposure to Aluminium through vaccines to be assessed according to studies, is as harmless to health.
- Children between three and ten years, which is very often eat food in containers made of uncoated aluminum is heated or kept warm were (aluminium foil or aluminium trays).
- Young people between 11 and 14 years of age and all from the age of 14, which is frequently aluminum-containing Deodorants and aluminum-containing white toothpaste use, and often eat foods in uncoated aluminum containers, heated or kept warm were.
In particular, in the case of young people, the Institute warns of a high aluminium intake, because the metal is very stored in the body. The substance accumulates about in women for a long time in the body, it can achieve a pregnancy, the unborn child. Young women should weigh each aluminum intake with a critical eye from a preventable source of come and over a longer period of time existed, writes the Institute in a detailed FAQ.
What is the BfR recommends that for the protection?
Acid and salt to increase the solubility of aluminum. For this reason, the BfR recommends in particular the preparation and storage of salty and acidic foods in uncoated aluminium from containers or aluminum foil. Including Apples, tomatoes, or cheese to fall. When you have a barbecue reusable stainless steel bowls to replace the aluminum. In addition, it is advisable to eat a varied and also cosmetics alternate.
Aluminum from Deodorants and toothpaste contributes, according to the study, significantly to the burden. Accordingly, it pays to use aluminum-free Alternatives. It is also important that cosmetics on damaged skin (for example, by shaving or sunburn) to apply, since the aluminum can then penetrate more easily. In addition, aluminum compounds, inter alia as coatings of nano-coming particles in some sunscreens and as color pigments in the lipsticks to use.
What are the health dangers of persistently high aluminum load?
In the short term, is the result of the ingested aluminum is not a big danger for the body, healthy people excrete a large part of again. In people with kidney disease, this mechanism may be disturbed, however. In addition, aluminum can accumulate even in healthy people in the body, when you record over a longer period of time larger quantities. The consequences of developmental disorders of the brain and motor skills, as well as damage of nerve, kidney, and bone.
Often is also a discussion about whether or Deodorants increase with aluminum, the risk of breast cancer. Studies suggests a possible connection hung. So far, however, there are no studies that could prove that in fact the aluminum to the development of breast cancer contributes – and not, for example, as a result of the disease aluminum in the cancer tissue accumulates.
Animal studies were able to demonstrate so far, no carcinogenic effect of the metal, even when the animals were exposed to very high doses. This is true not only for breast cancer but also for other cancers.