Aluminum Al Atomic Number: 13 Atomic Weight: 26.982 Half Life: Al-26=730000yrs Al-27=stable Al-28=2-3 min. ______________________________________________________________________________ Source: - Most abundant metal in earth's crust - Combined in nature with other elements (oxygen, silicon, fluorine) - Leached from stable state by acid rain, - Anti-caking agent - Anti-Perspirants - Cooking acidic foods (rhubarb) in aluminum material - Dialysis (aluminum hydroxide as phosphate binder in hemodialysis fluid) - Coal combustion - Some soy based infant formula Adverse Effects: - Neurotoxicity(motor function, cognition) - Encephalopathy: stuttering, gait disturbance, myoclonic jerks Seizures, coma, abnormal EEG, neurotoxicity of motor function, cognition - Osteomalacia or aplastic bone disease (associated with painful spontaneous fractures, hypercalcemia, and tumorous calcinosis) - Proximal myopathy - Increased risk of infection