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Glossary
of Terms
Aluminum
Symbol: Al
Atomic Number: 13
This metal is found
everywhere, being the most prevalent
heavy metal in the Earth's crust.
Possible sources of aluminum exposure
include drinking water (especially
from areas exposed to acid rain),
aluminum cookware, and aluminum-containing
medications such as Maalox. However,
it is also commonly ingested in foods
and in medicines, such as antacids,
and is used in cosmetics.
Aluminum has a
low molecular weight (number 13 on
the "periodic" table of
elements) and behaves differently
from metals such as lead or mercury,
but it has toxic effects none the
less. The human body’s range
of aluminum is between 50 and 150
mg., with an average of about 65 mg.
Most of the aluminum can be found
in the lungs, kidneys, bone, brain,
liver, and the thyroid.
Human daily intake
of aluminum has been estimated to
range between 10-110 mg., but the
body will tend to eliminate most of
this in the feces and urine with some
in the sweat. With lowered kidney
function, more aluminum will be stored
in the body, particularly in the bones.
For most people,
the greatest aluminum intake comes
from food additives such as sodium
aluminum phosphate (an emulsifier
in processed cheese), potassium alum
(used to whiten flour), and sodium
silicoaluminate and/or aluminum calcium
silicate (added to common table salt
to help it pour freely and not stick
together). In the use of aluminum
pots or pans and foil, some aluminum
leaches into the food we eat, particularly
with acidic foods such as tomatoes.
Some antacids contain aluminum hydroxide
and even some children's aspirins
have been found to contain aluminum.
Other common sources
of aluminum are: anti-perspirants,
toothpaste, dental amalgams, cosmetics,
baby powder, and cigarette filters,
some drinking waters and commercial
teas and baking powder.
Aluminin comes to
us from the Latin word alumen.
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