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Cited by 283Aluminum toxicity and tolerance in plants and animalsHeavy Metal Exposure and ToxicityTrace Elements in Health

Aluminum as a toxicant

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Becaria, A, Campbell, A, Bondy, SC·2002·Toxicology and Industrial Health
DOI 10.1191/0748233702th157oa
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Abstract

Although aluminum is the most abundant metal in nature, it has no known biological function. However, it is known that there is a causal role for aluminum in dialysis encephalopathy, microcytic anemia, and osteomalacia. Aluminum has also been proposed to play a role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) even though this issue is controversial. The exact mechanism of aluminum toxicity is not known but accumulating evidence suggests that the metal can potentiate oxidative and inflammatory events, eventually leading to tissue damage. This review encompasses the general toxicology of aluminum with emphasis on the potential mechanisms by which it may accelerate the progression of chronic age-related neurodegenerative disorders.

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  • Aluminium can be a metallic toxicant to humans and animals when there is a high body burden of the metal after natural or unnatural exposure.

    “The Al ion has no physiological role in metabolic processes (Exley and House, 2011) but it can be a metallic toxicant to humans and animals (Becaria et al., 2002) when there is high body burden of the metal after natural or unnatural exposure (Exley, 2013).”

    From Aluminium toxicosis: a review of toxic actions and effects (2019) · cites this paper as Becaria et al., 2002

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Cited by

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Authors
Becaria, A., Campbell, A., & Bondy, S.
Affiliations
University of California, Irvine (US)
Corresponding author
Becaria, A
ORCID
Campbell, A
Venue
Toxicology and Industrial Health
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2002-08
Volume
18
Issue
7
Pages
309-320
ISSN
  • 0748-2337 (ISSN-L)
  • 1477-0393
DOI
10.1191/0748233702th157oa
OpenAlex
W1990576414
Cited by
283
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 19 · 2014: 17 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 9
FWCI
0.16
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Toxicology and Industrial Health (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute on Aging (AG-16794, R01AG016794)
  • National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (ES7992, R01ES007992)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Aluminum toxicity and tolerance in plants and animals
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Heavy Metal Exposure and Toxicity
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Trace Elements in Health
Keywords
aluminum toxicity, dialysis encephalopathy, microcytic anemia, osteomalacia, Alzheimer's disease, neurodegeneration, oxidative stress, inflammation, metal accumulation, age-related neurodegenerative disorders
MeSH terms
Aluminum, Alzheimer Disease, Anemia, Macrocytic, Animals, Environmental Pollutants, Humans, Inflammation, Osteomalacia, Oxidative Stress, Anemia, Iron-Deficiency, Neurodegenerative Diseases

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