Aluminum in Drinking Water Tied to Alzheimer's

Yahoo News ^ | 4/14/03 | Jacqueline Stenson

[Libloather]

Aluminum in Drinking Water Tied to Alzheimer's
Mon Apr 14, 5:54 PM ET
By Jacqueline Stenson

SAN DIEGO (Reuters Health) - Adding support to a controversial theory linking aluminum with Alzheimer's disease, new research indicates the disease is more common in regions of northwest Italy where levels of aluminum in drinking water are highest.

And when the investigators studied the effects of one form of the metal on two types of human cells in the lab, they found it hastened cell death.

"We were absolutely surprised by these results," said study author Dr. Paolo Prolo, a researcher at the University of California at Los Angeles. "I did not expect any effect from aluminum."

In findings released here Monday at the annual Experimental Biology meeting, Prolo and colleagues focused on monomeric -- single molecule -- aluminum. This is the type that can be most easily absorbed by human cells, he said.

While there have been suggestions that aluminum cookware might pose a risk for Alzheimer's, the type of aluminum used in pots and pans consists of multiple molecules and does not appear to affect human cells, according to Prolo. "There is almost no evidence that the cookware is dangerous," he said.

When the researchers tested water in regions of northwest Italy in 1998, they found that total aluminum levels -- including monomeric and other types of aluminum -- ranged from 5 to 1,220 micrograms per liter, while monomeric aluminum levels alone ranged from 5 to 300 micrograms per liter.

Environmental officials generally recommended that total aluminum levels be below 200 micrograms per liter, Prolo noted.

After comparing this data to death rates from Alzheimer's in those regions, the researchers found that the disease was more common in areas with the highest levels of monomeric aluminum.

Back in the lab, Prolo and colleagues then tested the effects of monomeric aluminum on human immune-system cells and bone cancer cells. Ideally, human brain cells would be tested but these are not readily available because a biopsy of a patient's brain is necessary to acquire them, he said.

"We found that a very low quantity of aluminum added to our cell cultures was modifying cellular processes" like normal cell death, Prolo told Reuters Health.

When the aluminum was paired with beta-amyloid, a protein found in the brains of Alzheimer's patients, the combination killed off even more cells.

Because aluminum could kill both types of human cells, these findings raise the question of whether aluminum is potentially involved in other diseases, Prolo said.

But much more research is needed to understand how the metal does or does not affect people, he added.

[strela]

I wouldn't worry about breathing the air but look out for Walter Kidde tanks

True. You couldn't give me one - 6351-T6 tanks in general are dangerous junk. I switched to steel a couple of years ago, and would never go back to an aluminum 80.

[Radioactive]

Where does FLORIDE come from?

The process of aluminum smeltering.

What a great idea! To get rid of this highly toxic material, let's let people drink it in their water!

Floride is used in rat poison. How nice!

I would propose that Floride is the reason why we have altzimers in such great numbers today.

Also, using aluminum cooking pans and pots and drinking soda pop out of aluminum cans is not a great idea.

[blam]

"Simply place a decent sized magnet (a refrigerator magnet will suffice) on your forehead. If it does not stick and falls to the floor, your head may contain an abnormal amount of Aluminum."

Thank goodness, my magnet stuck.

[SierraWasp]

"Simply place a decent sized magnet (a refrigerator magnet will suffice) on your forehead. If it does not stick and falls to the floor, your head may contain an abnormal amount of Aluminum."

Do I remove my tin foil bonnet, first?

[Calvin Locke]

This was news at least 20 years ago. The aluminum cookware industry has that strong a lobby?

As far as hats go, get the non-stick foil and make sure it's applied non-stick side to the hair/head. Sort of acts like
a barrier. Also doubles as a conditioner for dry hair.

[steplock]

THis is old news that has been around for a minimum of 20 years!

I love it when someone "discovers" what was already known and proven. That's why aluminum pots/pans have been "discouraged" for 20 years or so. Unfortunately, some neo-scientist is stating that cast-iron is bad because it guves off too many iron ions??

Well - stainless is still #1 as far as safety...unless it's next because the agenda is that we eat only RAW foods??? PETA Alert maybe? hehehe

[strela]

HMS Sheffield's hull was aluminum, wasn't it? (At least until that Exocet that nailed it during the Falklands war finished with it).

[rintense]

There's also aluminum in Rolaids (or one of those antacids). Many older folks also used pots and pans made with aluminum. My grandmother died from Alzheimers, and the doctor said aluminium *could* have contributed to the disease.

[Shooter 2.5]

When I was SCUBA diving, the aluminum tanks were heavier because the tanks had to be thicker to give the same strength as steel. That was in the late 1970's. I don't know how it is today.

[Young Werther]

Foiled again! Now I can't wrap mah spuds when 'cuing them!

What next? No more tin foil alerts?

It ain 'uhmericun!

[Buck W.]

This is not a new finding. I worked for Reynolds Metals (now Alcoa) in the early '80's. The company went into major damage control mode when a similar story was released then.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Where does FLORIDE come from?

Florida?

[Lancey Howard]

I remember reading 20 years ago that aluminum from food and beverage cans was suspected of causing Alzheimers.

[Elsie]

But.....

How does one handle a 'delighted spy'???

[antidisestablishment]

Most double-acting baking powders contain sodium aluminum sulfate as well. It may all be paranoia, but I try to limit my exposure: my grandfather died of Alzheimers and I am entering the age of forgetfullness much too quickly.

[stainlessbanner]

he knew not to buy soft drinks or beer out of aluminum cans

Perhaps, but beer bottles are so much harder to crush on your forehead!

[Spyder]

Hi guys - I know I'd sure enjoy seeing your input on this thread, now deteriorating into an antifluoride thread. You're so much better at it than I am. Can't let some of this stuff go unchallenged, though. [/evil grin]