Table of Contents
Aluminum (Al) in Tap Water
A technical paper by Olympian Water Testing specialists
Aluminum in Drinking Water
Aluminium is a chemical element that’s found all over the planet. It is purest when it has a silver sheen, a silver grey colour, and is fragile. Usually it is mined [1]. It was only recently that the effects of aluminium on human health have come under scrutiny. In multiple epidemiological studies, the public and press were intrigued to hear of an association between drinking water contaminated with excessive amounts of aluminium and risk of dementia [2].
We want to tell you about aluminum in water, its impact on your body, what you can do to reduce it, how to clean water and who to go to.
How does aluminum contaminate drinking water?
Alcandium occurs naturally in soils and rocks, and it is also part of the air as dust that gets deposited in waterways [3]. The main routes of aluminum into the drinking water are runoff from the surface and seepage from the soil. If water flows over metals like aluminum in rocks or soil, then metals are dissolved in the water. High aluminum levels in surface water can be generated by acid rain from human industrial activities, too. Moreover, aluminum-containing consumer goods (food additives, cosmetics), cookware and drinks containers also adsorb aluminum in our water bodies [3].
Health effects of Aluminum
Healthy humans can ingest 7.2 grams of aluminium a day, with no harm, according to long-held theory. But there is now good evidence that aluminium can damage the central nervous system. A case in point is dialysis encephalopathy, a degenerative form of dementia that occurs in patients with kidney failure who drink too much dialysis fluid and medications containing a high level of aluminium [6, 7]. This state includes speech and behaviour disruptions, shaking, seizures and psychosis. Experts agree that this kind of dementia results from excessive aluminum levels in dialysis fluids and drugs, and that as those levels are reduced the incidence of dementia declines.
Aluminium has also been linked to devastating neurological disorders like Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease) and Alzheimer’s disease. Such people have high levels of aluminium in specific parts of their brain. But we still haven’t demonstrated that this metal causes these diseases. High aluminum was found in a 36-year, multicentre cohort of patients with Alzheimer’s disease, down syndrome and dialysis dementia syndrome. But they didn’t report any correlation with other widespread neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s [8]. Those consuming large quantities of aluminum also develop anemia, osteomalacia (soft or weak bones), diabetes and cardiac arrest, dizziness, weakness of muscles, seizures, childhood stunted growth and speech loss [9]. Aluminum cancer cannot be determined since the existing researches are not conclusive [9, 10].
Why should I test my water for aluminum contamination?
Given its fundamental role in supporting life, water is undeniably one of the world’s most precious resources. Thus, it’s crucial to know the precise composition of the water supply since aluminum in water sources has been linked to neurodegenerative illnesses, and other health problems [10]. The best way to learn about drinking water quality is to have a water testing laboratory evaluate water samples.
Some water systems add aluminum to the water to kill bacteria, but it should be filtered before it reaches the tap. However, aluminum can accidentally get into tap water, and the accumulation of aluminum in water pipes, meters, and service lines may lead to faults and costly repairs.
Is regular water testing for aluminum contaminants necessary?
Since it is the substance of life, water is definitely one of the world’s most valuable resources. It’s therefore very important to know the exact content of water supply as aluminum in water supply has been related to neurodegenerative diseases and other issues [10]. To find out about drinking water quality, have a water testing laboratory test water samples.
A few systems introduce aluminum to the water, to kill the bacteria, but the water has to be filtered before going into the faucet. But it’s possible for aluminum to slip into tap water, and over time, the aluminium build-up in water pipes, meters and service lines can cause failures and expensive repairs.
Aluminum removal from drinking water
The financial, social and medical wellbeing of a population depends on the quality of water. Water testing and monitoring on a regular basis will keep you drinking clean water and lessen or remove any risks related to aluminum contamination.
By testing the water you will know what it is that is wrong with the water supply. It will also ensure that the treatment is done in a proper manner and that the water quality is protected from potential sources of aluminum contamination. Having water tested will also help you figure out how to use the water and how to clean it.
Aluminum removal from drinking water
water… woman scientist testing water in laboratory 4
Water softeners, reverse osmosis, distillation are popular methods to remove aluminum from the water for use [12].
Reverse osmosis: Reverse osmosis system is widely used to remove aluminum from water, it is suitable for cheap treatment of raw water for human consumption[13]. By using high-pressure pumps, the normal osmosis can be reversed so that the solvent goes from a site of high solute concentration to a site of low solute concentration. The pumps produce osmotic pressure, and this pressure drives the water solution along a series of semi-permeable membranes, scrubbing out over 99.9 per cent of aluminum from the water [12, 13]. Pure solvent is stored on the other side of the reverse osmosis device, while the concentrated pollutants escape.
Distillation: Distillation is the best disinfectant of drinking water. Distillation uses heating water to generate steam, and then condensing that water into a vapor collected in another container [14]. The vapour turns back to water, which is safe drinking water. The aluminum contaminants are steam removed but salts and minerals are not [15]. This is a more expensive type of water treatment, but it is very effective at flushing out contaminants such as aluminum.
System for water softening: Here, small polymer spheres are electrocrystalized with an ion to make artificial resins. The process yields an ion swap, where the resin gives up its stored-aluminum ion for the chosen ion [16, 17].
Factors to consider before selecting an Aluminum treatment method
You might think about having a water filtration system in your house if you have any issues with tap water quality. But there are a lot of things to consider when buying a water treatment system for a home as the requirements of a home will vary.
1. Capacity
Water TreatmentThere are many types of water treatment you can go with it should depend on how much clean water you need regularly.
2. Filtration rate
Each water filter has a filtration rate, the amount of clean water it can produce per day, that’s in proportion to its capacity. Estimate daily consumption to make sure that the filtration capacity of the system you are considering is adequate to satisfy usage.
3. Removal of contamination
For best guidance, the best test is home water for toxicity. Depending on your water filter system, you will need to be more picky and some systems will have a high cover. The options for water purifiers could be narrowed down by what impurities are the most important to you.
4. Installation and operating costs
Treatment systems will also be partly a matter of money, but if you know what you’re after you might secure the best price possible. Also keep in mind maintenance (cartridges or filters to be replaced) and power (a per system fixed cost).
5. Maintenance complexity
The filter system should be functional as long as possible. Maintaining it is difficult if it isn’t simple. Some treatment systems will require you to swap multiple cartridges. Therefore, do consult professionals first.
6. Compatibility
The latest gadgets ought to match normal sinks, tubs, and showers, though check. If you own an ice maker or any other strange appliance, you will probably need a specific water treatment adapter to get the best results. The sooner you know if there are any other attachments you’re going to require to the treatment system, the sooner you can get those and have them installed.
Aluminum - Frequently Asked Questions
What is aluminum?
Aluminum is a silver-colored element that is light and simple to handle, as well as being corrosion-resistant, low in toxicity, and an excellent heat conductor [1]. It is the most common metal on the earth, found naturally in a combination of oxides and silicates.
How can I tell if my water contains aluminum?
Aluminum-contaminated water has no discernible odor or taste [1]. However, water with a high aluminum concentration may have a dark blue coloring. The only method of knowing how much aluminum is in the water supply is to get it analyzed by a water monitoring and testing firm.
How can I expose myself to aluminum?
Almost all foods, including vegetables, meat, and fish, contain aluminum at varying concentrations [18]. Using aluminum foil and cooking pots dramatically increases the amount of aluminum in the final product. While drinking water is not a leading source of human exposure to aluminum, chemicals such as food additives, antiperspirants, and antacids are proven to be secondary causes of aluminum exposure [19].
Why is aluminum in drinking water deemed dangerous since most of our daily consumption comes from food?
Most of our daily aluminum intake comes through eating. However, the aluminum in food seems to be bonded to other dietary molecules and hence is in a state that cannot be taken into the bloodstream. The gut wall appears to be the first line of defense against aluminum in meals for the human body, preventing it from passing through the intestinal wall.
What are the existing options for aluminum-based coagulants, and why are they not used?
Iron compounds (ferric chloride) and organic polymers can also be used as coagulants. Many interconnected aspects go into deciding which coagulant to use [3]. The water chemistry, including pH or acidity level, temperature, etc., is the key to determining which coagulant will operate best. Each option has benefits and drawbacks, some of which may be harmful to human health or the environment.
The primary justification for using coagulants based on aluminum is that other options do not effectively eliminate germs and particles. Alternative coagulants are often more expensive, cumbersome to carry, handle, and store, and potentially risky to deal with. It is not always practical to employ a substitute without compromising water quality if a treatment facility uses alum with a particular kind of water.
How is aluminum eliminated from the body?
Different factors affect the number of metals a person’s body can hold. As a result, scientists have turned to isotope-labeled aluminum compounds in their study of aluminum elimination. The kidneys eliminate around 60% of it within 24 hours, but long-term studies show that it has a biological half-life of up to 7 years, meaning it may take 7 years for the body to eliminate half of the original amount [20].
Is it possible to remove aluminum from my tap water?
There is currently no simple or low-cost technique to remove aluminum from tap water supplies for use in the home. Reverse osmosis and steam distillation are viable options, but they need costly equipment and constant upkeep to be useful.
Is bottled water lower in aluminum than tap water?
The amount of aluminum in bottled waters varies widely, just as in tap water. Certain bottled waters may contain aluminum since it occurs naturally at the source. Some bottled water producers utilize unfiltered or little filtered tap water; therefore, aluminum, if present in the tap water supply, might also be present in bottled water.
Consider aluminum in water testing
The availability of clean water is crucial. Having easy access to clean water is a fundamental human need. Water supplies’ testing and regulation help maintain a healthy and risk-free community.
The only guaranteed method to determine how much aluminum could be in water and how to keep filtration systems functioning optimally is to get it tested.
References
- RSC: Aluminium,
- Rondeau, V., Commenges, D., Jacqmin-Gadda, H., Dartigues, J.F.: Relation between aluminum concentrations in drinking water and Alzheimer’s disease: an 8-year follow-up study. Am J Epidemiol. 152, 59–66 (2000).
- Krupińska, I.: Aluminium Drinking Water Treatment Residuals and Their Toxic Impact on Human Health. Molecules. 25, 641 (2020).
- WHO: Aluminium in Drinking-water. (1980).
- Hood, E.: Tap Water and Trihalomethanes: Flow of Concerns Continues. Environ Health Perspect. 113, (2005).
- Arieff, A.I., Mahoney, C.A.: Pathogenesis of dialysis encephalopathy. Neurobehav Toxicol Teratol. 5, 641–644 (1983).
- Chen, Y., Tian, X., Wang, X.: Advances in dialysis encephalopathy research: a review. Neurol Sci. 39, 1151–1159 (2018).
- Lukiw, W.J., Kruck, T.P.A., Percy, M.E., Pogue, A.I., Alexandrov, P.N., Walsh, W.J., Sharfman, N.M., Jaber, V.R., Zhao, Y., Li, W., Bergeron, C., Culicchia, F., Fang, Z., McLachlan, D.R.C.: Aluminum in neurological disease – a 36 year multicenter study. J Alzheimers Dis Parkinsonism. 8, 457 (2019).
- Klotz, K., Weistenhöfer, W., Neff, F., Hartwig, A., van Thriel, C., Drexler, H.: The Health Effects of Aluminum Exposure. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 114, 653–659 (2017).
- Igbokwe, I.O., Igwenagu, E., Igbokwe, N.A.: Aluminium toxicosis: a review of toxic actions and effects. Interdiscip Toxicol. 12, 45–70 (2019).
- Tomljenovic, L.: Aluminum and Alzheimer’s disease: after a century of controversy, is there a plausible link? J Alzheimers Dis. 23, 567–598 (2011).
- Barakwan, R.A., Syavira, A.R., Trihadiningrum, Y.: Aluminum and Organic Contaminant Removal from Drinking Water Treatment Sludge. IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth Environ. Sci. 506, 012009 (2020).
- Gabelich, C.J., Ishida, K.P., Gerringer, F.W., Evangelista, R., Kalyan, M., Suffet, I.H. “Mel”: Control of residual aluminum from conventional treatment to improve reverse osmosis performance. Desalination. 190, 147–160 (2006).
- Adams, C., Wang, Y., Loftin, K., Meyer, M.: Removal of Antibiotics from Surface and Distilled Water in Conventional Water Treatment Processes. 128, 253–260 (2002).
- Zhang, L., Lv, X., Torgerson, A.T., Long, M.: Removal of Impurity Elements from Molten Aluminum: A Review. Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy Review. 32, 150–228 (2011).
- Arendze, S., Sibiya, M.S.: Removal of aluminium and iron from surface water by conventional water treatment. Water Supply. 17, 733–744 (2017).
- Pure Aqua: Aluminum Reduction System,
- CDC Toxic Substance Portal: ToxFAQsTM for Aluminum,
- Tietz, T., Lenzner, A., Kolbaum, A.E., Zellmer, S., Riebeling, C., Gürtler, R., Jung, C., Kappenstein, O., Tentschert, J., Giulbudagian, M., Merkel, S., Pirow, R., Lindtner, O., Tralau, T., Schäfer, B., Laux, P., Greiner, M., Lampen, A., Luch, A., Wittkowski, R., Hensel, A.: Aggregated aluminium exposure: risk assessment for the general population. Arch Toxicol. 93, 3503–3521 (2019).
- McFarland, G., La Joie, E., Thomas, P., Lyons-Weiler, J.: Acute exposure and chronic retention of aluminum in three vaccine schedules and effects of genetic and environmental variation. Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology. 58, 126444 (2020).
Share this research on social media
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
See all Research on Aluminum