Metabolism and possible health effects of aluminum
An extensive literature review with over 950 references examines the biochemistry of aluminum and eight similar ions. A hypothetical model is presented for the metabolism, based on documented direct observations of Al/sup 3 +/ and analogies from other ions. Main characteristics are low intestinal absorption, rapid urinary excretion, and slow tissue uptake, mostly in skeleton and reticuloendothelial cells. Intracellular Al/sup 3 +/ is probably first confined in the lysosomes but then slowly accumulates in the cell nucleus and chromatin. Large, long-lived cells, e.g., neurons, may be the most liable to this accumulation. The possible effects of this accumulation are discussed. As Al/sup 3 +/ is neurotoxic, the brain metabolism is most interesting. The normal and the lethally toxic brain levels of Al/sup 3 +/ are well documented and differ only by a factor of 3-10. The uptake is very slow, 1 mg in 36 years, and is consistent with an assumption that Al/sup 3 +/ taken up by the brain cannot be eliminated and is therefore accumulated. The possibility that Al/sup 3 +/ may cause or contribute to some specific diseases, most of them related to aging, is discussed with the proposed metabolic picture in mind.
- Research Organization:
- Oerebro Medical Center Hospital, Sweden
- OSTI ID:
- 5381596
- Journal Information:
- Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States), Vol. 65
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
BIOCHEMISTRY
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
METABOLISM
BRAIN
CATIONS
EXCRETION
INTESTINAL ABSORPTION
NERVE CELLS
ABSORPTION
ANIMAL CELLS
BODY
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
CHARGED PARTICLES
CHEMISTRY
CLEARANCE
IONS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
ORGANS
SOMATIC CELLS
UPTAKE
560306* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Man- (-1987)