Why is aluminum foil suddenly said to be toxic? - Printable Version +- ask aluminium Forum (https://www.askaluminium.com) +-- Forum: My Category (https://www.askaluminium.com/Forum-My-Category) +--- Forum: aluminium faq (https://www.askaluminium.com/Forum-aluminium-faq) +--- Thread: Why is aluminum foil suddenly said to be toxic? (/Thread-Why-is-aluminum-foil-suddenly-said-to-be-toxic)

Why is aluminum foil suddenly said to be toxic? - aadaasdark8072 - 03-04-2019 Aluminum metal does not naturally occur; it has to be manufactured from ores containing aluminum (bauxite) using electrolysis, which consumes a lot of energy. This means that aluminum is a relatively “new” metal, and aluminum foil, in particular, was only invented in 1910. It takes a while for ANY new invention to reveal its bad effects, especially if the effects are benign or only manifest slowly. The worst conjecture regarding aluminum toxicity is that it MIGHT be a contributing factor in Alzheimer’s disease. Fairly low concentrations (less than 5 ppm) is considered “potentially dangerous” to the human brain. Alzheimers disease was only discovered in 1906. Clearly, Alzheimer’s disease existed before we ever had aluminum foil, so aluminum foil is not the direct cause of it. Alzheimer’s disease exhibits symptoms usually in old age, and progresses slowly most of the time, it became much more evident (diagnosed) only after human lifespan increased to a level where it becomes possible for such diseases to present its symptoms (~1970s). And, frankly, we had much bigger fires to fight (polio, bacterial infections, etc.) before Alzheimer’s disease even showed up on the healthcare radar. This is possibly why aluminum foil has “suddenly” become toxic. [It could also be a negative marketing tactic against aluminum foil by the plastic wrap folks, but I have no proof of this.] Using aluminum foil in food contact applications (direct contact with food) may cause some of the aluminum to leach into ACIDIC foods - e.g. vinegar in sauces, tomato sauce, lemon juice. The amount of aluminum that leaches into the food is minuscule, compared to the total surface of aluminum foil that is exposed to the food. It also depends on the duration of contact (longer contact might cause more leaching) and temperature of contact (hotter means faster leaching). Use of aluminum foil is considered generally to be safe. However, you want to be judicious in how you use aluminum foil. It is best to avoid wrapping acidic foods with aluminum foil, or using aluminum foil to hold food that is being baked or cooked. However, it may be perfectly OK to wrap food at room temperature, or to store wrapped food in the refrigerator. The biggest toxic effect for aluminum foil is if you use it to wrap food that you would warm up in a microwave oven. When this happens, it is extremely toxic to your wallet. RE: Why is aluminum foil suddenly said to be toxic? - Keganhirl - 03-04-2019 There is a belief among some that aluminum is dangerous. In the 1980’s there was a correlation made between aluminum and Alzheimer’s disease. Since that time no definitive study has shown a causative effect. Some people avoid using aluminum cooking pots or drinking containers, but continue to use deodorant, most types of which are made with aluminum.