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Living Green
What you should know about Aluminum
Aluminum is a product to avoid, primarily because the mining and manufacturing of aluminum is very toxic. Claims are made that the metal itself is relatively benign but this not clear yet. Some researchers claim a link to Alzheimer’s though it is not yet proven; an ongoing investigation and discussion exists among scientists.
Aluminum is the third most abundant element on earth after oxygen and silicon. This makes it an ideal material for manufacturing and building.
The major problem of refining and smelting is greenhouse gas emissions. Electrical consumption of smelters and the byproducts of processing create these gases which include perfluorocarbons (PFC), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), fluoride, sulfur dioxide (S02), and carbon dioxide (CO2). The most toxic are the perfluorocarbons, PFC’s.
This stage of aluminum production is the main cause of perfluorocarbon emissions in the United States. From the manufacture of anodes for smelters and during the electrolytic process comes PAH. Emitted from smelters and electrical plants are sulfur dioxide and sodium fluoride. SO2 is one of the fundamental antecedents of acid rain. CO2 gas arises in smelting caused by the use of carbon anodes and from PFC emissions.
Recycling aluminum not only reduces emissions of the above gases but it also reduces energy consumption from the original smelting process, only 5% of the energy is required for recycling production vs. original production. Aluminum scrap is common in aluminum cans, automobiles, building materials and appliances. Quality is not affected in repeated recycling of aluminum.
Very large concentrations of aluminum can be toxic to humans, but usually great exposure levels are limited to miners, aluminum production workers, and dialysis patients. Aluminum is not significantly bioaccumulated in plants and animals.
Aluminum products also include anti-persperants causing many to switch to deodorants. Antacids have aluminum in them sending users to alternatives.
Aluminum cookware, with anodized finishes or not, is avoided by many consumers on the hypothesis of better safe than sorry. Aluminum beverage cans are not necessary, PET containers should be used.
Besides ingesting aluminum, reduction of aluminum production and emissions is highly important. One of the greatest users of aluminum is automobiles, the larger the car, the more aluminum used. Aluminum is a strong metal with low density; being lighter it is sought by companies in transportation — aircraft, cars, aerospace.
Obviously, in a household situation a reduction in aluminum foil use would be good — replacing it with parchment paper and the use of baking pans and dishes with tops, and simply not using foil while using the bbq, putting food directly on the grill.
There are essential uses for aluminum. It is ideal in ladders and tools for its strength and lightness. Also, aluminum works will in vents, exhausts, roof hatches.