UPTAKE OF TRACE AMOUNTS OF ALUMINUM INTO THE BRAIN FROM DRINKING-WATER

Throughout the world, alum (aluminum sulfate) is used in municipal wat er treatment plants to clarify water. Alum treatment usually removes a luminosilicate particles from drinking water but can substantially inc rease its soluble aluminum content (Zhang et al., 1994; Tran et al., 1 993; Kopp, 1970). Soluble aluminum is the more bioavailable and potent ially toxic form. We gavaged simulated tap water, containing a low lev el of radioactive soluble aluminum (Al-26), in to the stoma chs of rat s. Measurements with accelerator mass spectrometry showed that trace a mounts of Al-26 from this single exposure directly entered their brain tissue. Uptake of a comparable level of aluminum into the human brain , from alum-treated drinking water over a prolonged period of time, ma y contribute to long-term health consequences for some people. (C) 199 5 Intox Press, Inc.