Are there any health risks associated with the aluminum found in antiperspirants?

To the say the least, the picture on this topic is murky. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) claim there is no definitive connection between aluminum and/or parabens found in antiperspirants and increased risk of breast cancer or Alzheimer's Disease. However, an independent assessment (see the end of this answer for details) challenges this official line, and, citing research results (with an extensive bibliography), pointing out that there are at the very least highly suggestive results pointing to exactly such risks.

According to the author, each person should research the sources cited and reach his or her own conclusions. Based on an initial reading, that author makes a compelling case to support that suggestion. According to the Mayo Clinic (see mayoclinic.com/health/cancer-causes/CA00085 ) there does not seem to be any conclusive evidence for a connection between the two: - quote - There's no conclusive evidence linking the use of underarm antiperspirants or deodorants with breast cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Some reports have suggested that these products contain harmful substances such as aluminum compounds and parabens that can be absorbed through the skin or enter the body through nicks caused by shaving. No clinical studies have yet given a definitive answer to the question of whether these products cause breast cancer. But the evidence to date suggests these products don't cause cancer.

- end quote - However, according to the NCI (see http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/AP-Deo ) there are some studies that suggest at least an association between how early women started using antiperspirants and shaving their underarms on the one hand and how early they might have been diagnosed with breast cancer on the other hand. Despite this, it is not clear if this is a causative association or not. For example, it could be that women who tend to start those activities earlier come preferentially from a certain genetic or cultural background, which tends to be more susceptible to breast cancer.

The NCI thus concludes that more research is required before any such causative connection is concluded. - quote - Aluminum-based compounds are used as the active ingredient in antiperspirants. These compounds form a temporary plug within the sweat duct that stops the flow of sweat to the skin's surface.

Some research suggests that aluminum-based compounds, which are applied frequently and left on the skin near the breast, may be absorbed by the skin and cause estrogen-like (hormonal) effects (3). Because estrogen has the ability to promote the growth of breast cancer cells, some scientists have suggested that the aluminum-based compounds in antiperspirants may contribute to the development of breast cancer (3). ... Findings from a different study examining the frequency of underarm shaving and antiperspirant/deodorant use among 437 breast cancer survivors were released in 2003 (7).

This study found that the age of breast cancer diagnosis was significantly earlier in women who used these products and shaved their underarms more frequently. Furthermore, women who began both of these underarm hygiene habits before 16 years of age were diagnosed with breast cancer at an earlier age than those who began these habits later. While these results suggest that underarm shaving with the use of antiperspirants/deodorants may be related to breast cancer, it does not demonstrate a conclusive link between these underarm hygiene habits and breast cancer.In 2006, researchers examined antiperspirant use and other factors among 54 women with breast cancer and 50 women without breast cancer.

The study found no association between antiperspirant use and the risk of breast cancer; however, family history and the use of oral contraceptives were associated with an increased risk of breast cancer (8). Because studies of antiperspirants and deodorants and breast cancer have provided conflicting results, additional research is needed to investigate this relationship and other factors that may be involved. - end quote - For an interesting set of articles discussing these and related matters, follow the links below.

The author cites a very large number of studies, and concludes that while the NCI and FDA claim that aluminum and parabens in antiperspirants are safe, each is citing the other as their justification. The author points out that there are several inaccurate statements made by these national "official" bodies, and that there is a body of research showing at least an indication that aluminum may well play a role in increased risk of breast cancer and Alzheimer's disease. A sample from these articles states: - quote - Studies on mice have found that the absorption of aluminum through the skin causes a greater burden on the body than oral ingestion.

6 Humans also absorb aluminum through the skin: a 2001 study showed that aluminum was still present in blood samples 15 days after one application of aluminum to the armpit.7 Consequently, applying aluminum to the skin is a very effective way to get aluminum in your system, and in your brain. ... Aluminum was first recognized as a human neurotoxin in 1886 8, before being used as an antiperspirant. A neurotoxin is a substance that causes damage to nerves or nerve tissue.

... Post-mortem analysis of Alzheimer’s infected brains has shown increased levels of aluminum compared to people that did not die from Alzheimer’s. ... One study has asserted that the use of aluminum based antiperspirants increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by 60%.8 ... In conclusion, the link between aluminum and Alzheimer’s has been well established. The sources used for this article represent a small portion of the research that has been done in this area.

This is contrary to the Alzheimer’s Association’s claim that “Almost all scientists today focus on other areas of research, and few experts believe that everyday sources of aluminum pose any threat. € 21 As stated by Prasunpriya, “Awareness of aluminum is the primary factor in preventing aluminum induced toxicity”16 Limiting your aluminum intake will only benefit your health. - end quote - The four-part article can be found at: - http://www.controlyourimpact.com/articles/deodorants-antiperspirants-and-your-health/ - http://www.controlyourimpact.com/articles/antiperspirant-aluminum-and-alzheimers-disease/ - http://www.controlyourimpact.com/articles/antiperspirants-aluminum-and-breast-cancer/ - http://www.controlyourimpact.com/articles/deodorants-antiperspirants-parabens-and-breast-cancer.

So far, the jury is out. I like to avoid commercial evidence and conspiracy theorists alike, so I usually listen to Skeptoid on these matters. We may know in another few decades, but my gut feeling says it's OK or we'd be dying out as a species, or, since it's been in common use since the 1950s, that almost every senior citizen would have Alzheimers and this would have been the case for a couple of decades.

Obviously, not the case. The closes link is breast cancer. Check out the link below for an intelligent analysis.

Here's a good site to check you cosmetic products. cosmeticsdatabase.com It was created by a non profit association, the Environmental Working Group (ewg. Org).

You can enter all your cosmetics and check how dangerous they "could" be to your health. Now, everyone eliminates toxins from their body a different ways....but it's a good source for information. This way you can make a "conscious" choice about what risk you can take.

No, there are no known health risks. A study that found a link between the aluminum in antipersirants and alzheimers disease has since been discredited. More recently, a totally unfounded rumor claimed a link between aluminum-based antiperspirants and breast cancer.

The American Cancer society emphatically says "none of these claims are true. " It's of course difficult to prove the negative that it has no health risks, but you need not worry about the two possibilities above. You also mentioned deoderants in your question, but they do not typically contain aluminum.

If you do decide to avoid aluminum, one easy way to do so is to use products called deoderants as opposed to those called antiperspirants.

Aluminum is considered to be a neurotoxin in very high doses. There were many allegations with regard to the harmful effects of the aluminum present in antiperspirants. However, none of these have come to fruition today.

The two most predominant claims were links to Alzheimer's disease and Breast Cancer. There are claims that there is an increased amount of aluminum in the brains of Alzheimer patients. However, no direct link has been made to the cause and effect theory.

A school of thought also postulated that Aluminum chloride goes into the bloodstream and increases the production of estrogen and thus stimulates the growth of breast cancer cells. To date, both hypotheses have not been proven.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.