Effects of aluminum on cells and tissues

International audience

<p>Aluminum (Al, also written aluminium) is the most abundant metal of the earth crust (about 8.2%) although it is never found as a free element in nature. The first chemist who isolated the metal was HD. Oersted in 1825 but the most effective process was discovered in 1886–1888 by CM. Hall, PLT. Héroult and KJ. Bayer. Large amounts of the metal were extracted from bauxite, an aluminum-rich ore discovered near Les Baux de Provence, in the southern part of France. Today the Al production is about 57,889 thousand tons a year (in 2015) [1]. Al is largely used in various industries: transport (25%, i.e. airplanes, boats…), construction (25%, i.e. windows, structures…), packaging (17%; i.e., food, containers, bins, soft packages, foils…) (Fig. 1), electrical engineering (10%, i.e. cable, bus bars…); machinery and equipment (10%) and other purposes including cosmetics and food additives…</p>