

Consequently, it is highly prized as a construction material, in electrotechnical applications, as packing material or as fuel for solid-fuel rockets, to name but a few uses. Elemental aluminum finds a myriad of uses due to its excellent material properties such as castability in any shape, plasticity, heat conduction, low density, low melting point, oxidative passivation, and suppleness with concurrent toughness. Uptake through inhalation is negligible for the general public, although workers who breathe dust containing aluminum over an extended period have an increased tendency to contract pulmonary aluminosis (restrictive lung disease). Dermal uptake, on the other hand, plays a secondary role, in spite of the fact that deodorants containing aluminum have been repeatedly suggested to be related to an increase in risk of breast cancer. Footnote 1 The main source of aluminum in the human body is food. According to an older study, aluminum is also not essential for any higher plants. Aluminum, on the other hand is, in spite of its prevalence, not known to have any function in human or animal organisms. Certain metals such as iron and magnesium are essential for the human organism and maintenance of bodily functions and must be taken up through nourishment.

In some instances the TWI is significantly exceeded, dependent upon the food contact material and the food itself.Īluminum is the third most prevalent element in the earth’s crust with a proportion of 7.5%. ConclusionsĪn estimate of the health risk to consumers is calculated, based on the tolerable weekly intake (TWI) specified by the European Food Safety Authority of 1 mg/kg body weight for all groups of people. ResultsĪs a result of their frequent use in private households a study was undertaken to detect migration of this metal to foodstuffs from drink containers, coffee pots, grill pans, and camping cookware made of aluminum. Food contact materials containing aluminum represent an anthropogenic source of dietary aluminum. Aluminum is used in many fields and occurs in numerous foodstuffs. The possible health risks to human beings resulting from uptake of aluminum include detrimental effects to the hemopoietic system, the nervous system and bones. A few drops of universal indicator have been added to the water.In spite of the prevalence of aluminum in nature, no organism has been found to date which requires this element for its biological functions. Questionĭescribe and explain the observations when a small piece of lithium is placed on the surface of a big container of water. In general, the more reactive the metal, the more rapid the reaction is. Sodium + water → sodium hydroxide + hydrogen For example, sodium reacts rapidly with cold water: When a metal reacts with water, a metal hydroxide and hydrogen are formed. Hydrogen and carbon are shown for comparison. The table summarises some reactions of metals in the reactivity series.
#Aluminum reactivity with food series
The reactivity series of metals is a chart showing metals in order of decreasing reactivity. When metals react with other substances, the metal atoms lose electrons to form positive ions.
