Aluminum

Aluminum = =

 Abstract Aluminum is used in baking powders,  antiperspirants, toothpaste , bleached flour , grated cheese , table salt , beer , cooking pots , pans , utensils , and foil. It is a protoplasmic poison and a pernicious and persistent neurotoxin. This chemical or metal at times is a very hazardous material. In some and most cases aluminum over long exposure leads to Alzheimer's disease. Aluminum affects the nervous system which is the result of Alzheimer's. A process of oxidation occurs in which there is a loss of at least one electron when two or more substances interact. If this element was banned there would be a major affect on our daily lifestyles. Aluminum is used in many things such as It is extensively used for kitchen utensils, outside building decoration, and in thousands of industrial applications where a strong, light, easily constructed material is needed. Aluminum is cheaper and more recyclable than copper but if it were a need to change then copper would be the pricey choice of aluminum. It has not been banned in any countries because at this point and time because there is no substitution from it. I believe that there is no chance of aluminum being banned. There is no chance because there are way too many products involved in our daily lives that involve the use of aluminum. Aluminum is cheaper and more recyclable than copper but if it were a need to change then copper would be the pricey choice of aluminum. Also tin is a cheap alternative but it does not have the same strength properties as aluminum.

Background

Our element is Aluminum. Aluminum is a protoplasmic poison and a pernicious and persistent neurotoxin. No living systems use aluminum as part of a biochemical process. This chemical or metal at times is a very hazardous material. In some and most cases aluminum over long exposure leads to Alzheimer's disease.

  Chemistry Aluminum is a very found in all types of ore. Bauxite is the most useful ore for producing pure aluminum. Bauxite is usually made up of 45-60% aluminum oxide, the rest being sand, iron, and other metals. Bauxite can be found hard as rock, but is mainly found soft as dirt and is easily dug out from open pit mines. The chemical caustic soda is used to dissolve the aluminum compounds found in bauxite, separating it from the sand, iron, and other impurities in the process. After the aluminum oxide is extracted from the bauxite it undergoes a process known as smelting to release the pure aluminum.

Uses: baking powders antiperspirants toothpaste dental amalgams bleached flour grated cheese table salt beer cooking pots pans utensils foil

Impact on the environment: During the process if smelting aluminum plants in the United States create significant amounts of greenhouse gases, generating about 5.5 million tons of carbon dioxide each year.

Human health impacts

Aluminum is harmful to all life forms. It can lead to serious health effects, such as:

- Damage to the central nervous system - Dementia - Loss of memory - Listlessness - Severe trembling

Aluminum damages all types of tissue. it also appears to be more persistent than most of the other metallic poisons. Aluminum can also be harmful in working places such as people that work in factories where aluminum is applied during production processes may endure lung problems when they breathe in aluminum dust. Aluminum can cause problems for kidney patients when it enters the body during kidney dialyses. People that are exposed to high concentrations of aluminum can lead to health problems in a long period of time, however people that inhale aluminum dust can lead to health problems in a short period of time. PSA  media type="custom" key="5640723"

Environmental Health Impact

==**  Aluminum affects the nervous system which is the result of Alzheimer's. A process of oxidation occurs in which there is a loss of at least one electron when two or more substances interact. It takes 80 to 500 years for aluminum to degrade. Aluminum can be recycled like many other products but it can also be broken down and dissolved during the process in which hydrochloric acid comes in contact with the element. If this element was banned there would be a major affect on our daily lifestyles. **==

==**   Aluminum is used in many things such as It is extensively used for kitchen utensils, outside building decoration, and in thousands of industrial applications where a strong, light, easily constructed material is needed. This element is also used in many rockets and aircraft involved with the military. Therefore if banned, our defenses would also be dramatically affected. A substitute is copper for aluminum. Now the price difference is very different. Aluminum is cheaper and more recyclable than copper but if it were a need to change then copper would be the pricey choice of aluminum. If America would ban Aluminum we most likely not use any airplanes, cars, boat (anything to travel in), and our foods. The main source of this product is right here in America. Actually we are the biggest provider for aluminum. They would at least not be able to use half the items. I would not be typing on this computer if they banned it. I guess you could say it would be another whole great depression because aluminum is the 2nd most used metal. At a political stand point they would never make such a stupid move to do that and if they did another party would try everything they could to get aluminum back on the market. **==

Summary

The benefits of aluminum are that it is a cheap and strong alternative to other metals such as tin and copper which are too costly and to weak. The downfall is that long term exposure to aluminum dust can cause lung disease and Alzheimer. In conclusion aluminum will not be being replaced anytime soon due to our dependency towards it and our lack of a good alternative.

Citations

Society, Alzheimer's. "Aluminium and Alzheimer's disease." alzheimers. 2010. Alzheimer Society, Web. 8 Mar 2010. @http://alzheimers.org.uk/factsheet/406

McDougall, MD, Dr. John. "Alzheimer's Again linked to aluminum ." McDougall Wellness Center (2003): n. pag. Web. 8 Mar 2010. @http://www.rense.com/general37/alum.htm

Messmer, MD, John. "Does aluminum increase your risk for alzheimer disease ." 3 October 2006: n. pag. Web. 8 Mar 2010. http://www.thedietchannel.com/Alzheimers-Disease.htm