STATUS AND FUTURE CONCERNS OF CLINICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ALUMINUM TOXICOLOGY

A wide range of toxic effects of aluminum (Al) have been demonstrated in plants and aquatic animals in nature, in experimental animals by se veral routes of exposure, and under different clinical conditions in h umans. Aluminum toxicity is a major problem in agriculture, affecting perhaps as much as 40% of arable soils in the world. In fresh waters a cidified by acid rain, Al toxicity has led to fish extinction. Aluminu m is a very potent neurotoxicant. In humans with chronic renal failure on dialysis, Al causes encephalopathy, osteomalacia, and anemia. Ther e are also reports of such effects in certain patient groups without r enal failure. Subtle neurocognitive and psychomotor effects and electr oencephalograph (EEG) abnormalities have been reported at plasma Al le vels as low as 50 mu g/L. infants could be particularly susceptible to Al accumulation and toxicity, reduced renal function being one contri butory cause. Recent reports clearly show that Al accumulation occurs in the tissues of workers with long-term occupational exposure to Al d usts or fumes, and also indicate that such exposure may cause subtle n eurological effects. Increased efforts should be directed toward defin ing the full range of potentially harmful effects in humans. To this e nd, multidisciplinary collaborative research efforts are encouraged, i nvolving scientists from many different specialities. Emphasis should be placed on increasing our understanding of the chemistry of Al in bi ological systems, and on determining the cellular and molecular mechan isms of Al toxicity.