Aluminium Exposure Through the Diet

Aluminium in the Human Brain: Routes of Penetration, Toxicity, and Resulting Complications

Aluminium (Al) is the most ubiquitous metal in the Earth's crust. Even though its toxicity is well-documented, the role of Al in the pathogenesis of several neurological diseases remains debatable. To establish the basic framework for future studies, we review literature reports on Al toxicokinetics and its role in Alzheimer's disease (AD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), alcohol use disorder (AUD), multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson's disease (PD), and dialysis encephalopathy (DE) from 1976 to 2022. Despite poor absorption via mucosa, the biggest amount of Al comes with food, drinking water, and inhalation. Vaccines introduce negligible amounts of Al, while the data on skin absorption (which might be linked with carcinogenesis) is limited and requires further investigation. In the above-mentioned diseases, the literature shows excessive Al accumulation in the central nervous system (AD, AUD, MS, PD, DE) and epidemiological links between greater Al exposition and their increased prevalence (AD, PD, DE). Moreover, the literature suggests that Al has the potential as a marker of disease (AD, PD) and beneficial results of Al chelator use (such as cognitive improvement in AD, AUD, MS, and DE cases).

Aluminum environmental pollution: the silent killer

The concern about aluminum (Al) toxicity has been proven in various cases. Some cases are associated with the fact that Al is a neurotoxic substance that has been found in high levels in the brain tissues of Alzheimer's disease (AD), epilepsy, and autism patients. Other cases are related to infants, especially premature infants and ones with renal failure, who are at the risk of developing the central nervous system (CNS) and bone toxicity. This risk is a result of infants' exposure to Al from milk formulas, intravenous-feeding solutions, and possibly from aluminum-containing vaccinations. Furthermore, most antiperspirants contain  aluminum compounds that raise human exposure to toxic Al. This review paper is intended to discuss in detail the above concerns associated with aluminum, and hence urges the need for more studies exploring the effects of overexposure to Al and recommending mitigation actions.

Human Exposure to Potentially Toxic Elements from the Consumption of Soybean Beverages Commercialized in Spain

ABSTRACT

Plant-based beverages have been positioned as an alternative to cow's milk. Some of the most commonly consumed plant-based beverages are those made from soybeans. Soybean beverages can be an important source of essential elements. However, soybean plants can be exposed to high concentrations of contaminants, such as toxic metals, from the soil and the environment. The objective of this study was to determine the concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTEs; Fe, Cu, Cr, Co, Mn, Mo, Zn, B, Ba, Ni, Li, Sr, V, Al, Cd, and Pb) to evaluate the human exposure and toxic risk from the consumption of these soybean beverages. Forty samples of various brands of soybean beverages were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy. The most abundant PTE was Al (3.93 mg/L), followed by Fe (1.91 mg/L) and Ba (0.69 mg/L). Based on a mean consumption of two servings of soybean beverage per day (250 mL per serving), this consumption results in a daily intake of Al and Pb that is significant but still below of the maximum recommended amount. However, higher consumption could exceed the maximum recommended Al and Pb values, with consequent risks to the human health.

HIGHLIGHTS

Multielemental Analysis of Bee Pollen, Propolis, and Royal Jelly Collected in West-Central Poland

Beehive products possess nutritional value and health-promoting properties and are recommended as so-called "superfoods". However, because of their natural origin, they may contain relevant elemental contaminants. Therefore, to assess the quality of bee products, we examined concentrations of a broad range of 24 selected elements in propolis, bee pollen, and royal jelly. The quantitative analyses were performed with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) techniques. The results of our research indicate that bee products contain essential macronutrients (i.e., K, P, and S) and micronutrients (i.e., Zn and Fe) in concentrations depending on the products' type. However, the presence of toxic heavy metals makes it necessary to test the quality of bee products before using them as dietary supplements. Bearing in mind that bee products are highly heterogenous and, depending on the environmental factors, differ in their elemental content, it is necessary to develop standards regulating the acceptable levels of inorganic pollutants. Furthermore, since bees and their products are considered to be an effective biomonitoring tool, our results may reflect the environment's condition in west-central Poland, affecting the health and well-being of both humans and bees.

Re-evaluation of aluminium sulphates (E 520-523) and sodium aluminium phosphate (E 541) as food additives

The Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (ANS) provided a scientific opinion re-evaluating the safety of aluminium sulphates (E 520-523) and sodium aluminium phosphate, acidic (E 541) as food additives. The Panel considered that adequate exposure and toxicity data were available. Aluminium sulphates (E 520-523) and sodium aluminium phosphate, acidic (E 541) are permitted as food additives in only a few specific products and the exposure is probably near zero. Aluminium compounds have low bioavailability and low acute toxicity. There is no concern with respect to genotoxicity and carcinogenicity. The no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) for aluminium compounds in subchronic studies was 52 mg Al/kg body weight (bw) per day in rats and 90 mg Al/kg bw per day in dogs and the lowest NOAEL for neurotoxicity in rats was 30 mg Al/kg bw per day and for developing nervous system was 10-42 mg Al/kg bw per day in studies in mice and rats. The Panel concluded that aluminium sulphates (E 520-523) and sodium aluminium phosphate, acidic (E 541) are of no safety concern in the current authorised uses and use levels.