Aluminum

By 18 months of age, a child has been exposed to an estimated 4,925 micrograms of aluminum across all sources. Aluminum accumulation in brain tissue is implicated in neurodegenerative pathology including Alzheimer's disease. Aluminum causes cellular damage and disrupts normal cellular signaling, implicated in cancer. Trace amounts of aluminum remain in the finished margarine after the hydrogenation process. Aluminum is highly toxic to the body. Aluminum exposure is essentially unavoidable in modern life without deliberate effort to reduce it. High aluminum burdens impair kidney function because the kidneys are a primary excretion route. Aluminum has been demonstrated to contribute to the development of Alzheimer's disease. Aluminum salts are used as adjuvants in many vaccines. Aluminum chlorohydrate is the active ingredient in most antiperspirants. Municipal tap water commonly contains aluminum. Aluminum is one of the catalysts used in the hydrogenation of vegetable oils for margarine production.