STUDIES ON ALUMINUM LEACHING FROM COOKWARE IN TEA AND COFFEE AND ESTIMATION OF ALUMINUM CONTENT IN TOOTHPASTE, BAKING POWDER AND PAAN MASALA

Studies were conducted in order to assess the level of aluminium (Al) in samples of Indian tea, coffee; toothpaste, paan masala (mouth fresh ener) and baking powder. Leaching of Al from cookware while preparing tea and coffee was also studied. Experiments were also conducted to st udy the sequential leaching of Al from cookware by preparing tea and c offee in the presence of standard size Al sheets (coupons). A small am ount of Al was found to have leached from coupons during preparation o f tea. Tea leaves, were found to be a rich source of Al and a maximum of 2.2% Al is extracted in tea infusions. Coffee powder on the other h and was not found to be a rich source of Al. Baking powder was found t o be a rich source of Al and 1 kg of cake prepared with 1-3 teaspoon o f baking powder may contain 2-12.7 mg of Al in each serving (25 g). To othpaste also contains a significant quantity of Al, more so, when pac ked in Al tubes. Ingestion pattern of Al from these items by humans is also discussed. Copyright (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.