ALUMINUM BEVERAGE CANS AS A DIETARY SOURCE OF ALUMINUM

Objective: To examine the possibility that aluminium beverage cans contribute to the dietary level of aluminium. Method: The aluminium content of a variety of beverages from aluminium cans and glass containers was measured. Results: The contents of 106 aluminium cans and bottles representing 52 different beverages all had a higher aluminium content than Newcastle tap water at 1.4-mu-mol/L, ranging as high as 385-mu-mol/L. Non-cola soft drinks averaged 33.4-mu-mol/L from cans and 5.6-mu-mol/L from bottles. Cola drinks averaged 24.4-mu-mol/L from cans and 8.9-mu-mol/L from bottles, whereas beer in cans or bottles averaged about 6-mu-mol/L. Conclusions: In general, the aluminium content of beverages from aluminium cans was higher than that from glass containers, and it rose with decreasing pH. Within a given category there was a wide variation in aluminium content. If the speculative link between aluminium intake and Alzheimer's disease is established then beverages from aluminium cans, particularly soft drinks, may be a risk factor.