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Dept of Health

Answer

Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research is being carried out into the medical impact of aluminium on the human body (a) via its use as a food packaging material and (b) in terms of its presence in drinking water. [19077] Ms Blears: The most recently published study by the Food Standards Agency showed that exposures of United Kingdom consumers to aluminium from the typical diet in the UK were well within the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) established for aluminium in 1989 by the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives, even for those eating above-average amounts of food. Although general exposures from the diet are low, the Food Standards Agency currently has four research projects to test if there is migration of aluminium into food from, respectively, glazed ceramic ware, paper and board, kitchen ware and glass. Aluminium in drinking-water is a minor contributor to oral intakes of aluminium in UK consumers. A wide range of types of research contributes to scientific understanding of the effects of aluminium in humans. There is no comprehensive national or international database of current research on aluminium. The most relevant studies listed in the National Research Register concern the role of aluminium in dementia, clinico-pathological correlates of dementia in Down's syndrome (including aluminium absorption), possible protective effects of selenium and magnesium on the toxicity of aluminium, and a clinical trial of immunotherapy with aluminium hydroxide. The National Research Register is a database of on-going and recently completed research projects funded by, or of interest to, the United Kingdom's national health service, and is available at http://www.doh.gov.uk/research/nrr.htm. In addition, the Department and the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly health authority are funding continuing studies of health outcomes in relation to the Lowermoor water pollution incident of 1988, in which the principal pollutant was aluminium sulphate at very high concentrations.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

19077; 376 c930-1W

Session

2001-02

Subjects

Health Health hazards Drinking water Packaging Research Aluminium

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk