Is Aluminum Dust Dangerous?!?

N200PF · Post by **N200PF** » Thu May 25, 2006 12:36 am

It just dawned on me that I am breathing and eating a lot of this stuff and I don't konw if it's going to kill me or not!

Anyone have some insight in to possible risks?

- Peter

prestwich · Post by **prestwich** » Thu May 25, 2006 12:52 am

Google will give you more than you wanted to know. Personally, I don't think the amount of dust ingested or inhaled during the course of building one airplane is going to amount to anything worthy of concern.

Something is going to kill you, that's for sure. Maybe it will be the toxins in your toothpaste.

aparchment · Post by **aparchment** » Thu May 25, 2006 7:14 am

I've thought that about toothpaste for years, so I don't use the stuff myself. Anyone want to fly with me this weekend? I've got a Eurcoupe.

Now that aluminum stuff is safe as all get out. Higher brain function is highly overrated. Heck I sprinkle it on my eggs instead of salt (talk about a toxic product!) and snort some of it each morning just to keep my chemical balance okay. I reckon I'll live 'til at least 40, but if not, at least I won't rust when they bury me.

Antony

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art7739.asp

TomNativeNewYorker · Post by **TomNativeNewYorker** » Thu May 25, 2006 7:25 am

HEALTH EFFECTS
Aluminum particles deposited in the eye may cause local tissue destruction. Aluminum salts may cause eczema, conjunctivitis, dermatoses, and irritation of the upper respiratory system via hydrolysis-liberated acid.23 Aluminum is not generally regarded as an industrial poison, although inhalation of finely divided aluminum powder has been reported as a cause of pneumoconiosis.24 In most investigative cases, however, it was found that exposure was not solely to aluminum, but to a mixture of aluminum, silica, iron dusts, and other materials.25 Aluminum in aerosols has been referenced in studies involving Alzheimer's disease.26 Most exposures to aluminum occur in smelting and refining processes. Because aluminum may be alloyed with various metals, each metal (e.g., copper, zinc, magnesium, manganese, nickel, chromium, lead, etc.) may possibly present its own health hazards.27

The American Council of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) recommends the need for five separate Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) for aluminum, depending on its form (aluminum metal dust, aluminum pyro powders, aluminum welding fumes, aluminum soluble salts, and aluminum alkyls).28 The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has also established Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) for aluminum.29

http://www.meridianeng.com/aluminum.html

HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION

* Routes of Exposure Exposure to aluminum can occur through inhalation, ingestion, and eye or skin contact.

1. Effects on Animals: Aluminum metal is an irritant dust of low toxicity in experimental animals. Fine metallic aluminum powders inhaled by rats, hamsters, and guinea pigs did not cause pulmonary fibrosis [NLM 1992]. Rats exposed by inhalation to aluminum dust developed pneumonitis [Proctor et al. 1988]. Inhalation or intratracheal injection of aluminum dust caused infections in the respiratory system of the rats and rabbits exposed [NLM 1992]. Interstitial fibrosis with hyalinosis, emphysema, and hemorrhage were noted and reportedly led to the development of bullous emphysema, bronchopneumonia, and hemorrhagic pneumonia [NLM 1992]. In addition to the alterations of the lungs, changes in the walls of blood vessels, kidneys, spleen, liver, and meninges were also reported [NLM 1992]. Aluminum filings and splinters embedded into the skin did not induce a hypersensitive state [NLM 1992].

2. Effects on Humans: Aluminum dust is an eye and respiratory tract irritant in humans. Soluble aluminum salts are irritants when inhaled as aerosols [Hathaway et al. 1991]. Although inhalation of aluminum powder of particle size 1.2 um, given over 10- or 20-minute periods several times weekly resulted in no adverse health effects among thousands of workers over several years, several other studies report X-ray evidence of pulmonary fibrosis [Hathaway et al. 1991]. Some patients on long-term hemodialysis develop speech disorders, dementia, or convulsions. This syndrome is associated with increased concentration of aluminum in serum, brain, muscle, and bone [Amdur et al. 1991; Hathaway et al. 1991]. There is some evidence that Alzheimer's disease may be linked to aluminum content in the body [Amdur et al. 1991]. Analysis of the aluminum content in the brains of persons dying from Alzheimer's have shown increased levels, although brain aluminum levels vary greatly. A second correlating factor is that neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) have been identified in both aluminum encephalopathy and in Alzheimer's disease [Amdur et al. 1991]. However, it has been shown that the NFTs produced by the two conditions are structurally and chemically different and that NFTs are present in several other neurological disorders. It appears that the aluminum content of the brain is less an issue relating to exposure to aluminum than an issue of a blood-brain barrier defect or compromise of some kind [Amdur et al. 1991].

* Signs and symptoms of exposure

1. Acute exposure: Acute exposure to aluminum dust has resulted in eye irritation.

2. Chronic exposure: The signs and symptoms of chronic exposure to aluminum metal dust include shortness of breath, weakness, and cough.

[url]http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/healthguidelin ... ition.html[/ur]

bmurrish · Post by **bmurrish** » Thu May 25, 2006 8:03 am

Here is an interesting thread we had on this subject a while back

http://www.rivetbangers.com/cgi-php/for ... light=dust

N200PF · Post by **N200PF** » Thu May 25, 2006 8:51 am

Hey thanks for the info guys!

I found out that one of the side effects of pulmonary fibrosis is "Rapid Weight Loss"! SWEET!

http://www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org/ipf.htm

Actually I think I am going to be a little more careful about the ventalation in my shop and wearing a mask when it gets really bad.

- Peter

jim_geo · Post by **jim_geo** » Thu May 25, 2006 11:43 am

What was the question?

aparchment · Post by **aparchment** » Thu May 25, 2006 1:06 pm

LOL! Good one, uhhhh John was it?

An -- something or the other

N200PF · Post by **N200PF** » Thu May 25, 2006 1:43 pm

OK Goofball!

- Peter

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Thu May 25, 2006 2:21 pm

I am more worried about scotchbrite wheel dust!

What is in THOSE!?!

CJ

Post by **Spike** » Thu May 25, 2006 4:57 pm

Scotchbrite

N200PF · Post by **N200PF** » Thu May 25, 2006 5:00 pm

NO DOUBT CJ!!! I didn't even think about that!

I'll do some snoopin' and see what's up!

- Peter

Maxwell007 · Post by **Maxwell007** » Thu May 25, 2006 7:46 pm

You guys really have me worried now. I have yet to order my first kit, and now I find out that it might kill me before I even get to fly. Perhaps I'll join the chess club.
I have been selling brakes (asbestos) for 30 years now and I ain't dead yet. At the end of the day........who cares what kills you......somethin's 'gonna!
Me.....I hope to be shot by a jealous husband when I am 85 years old!
I sure hope they don't find out that tequila will kill you!!!

jim_geo · Post by **jim_geo** » Thu May 25, 2006 9:39 pm

Don't worry you'll finish the plane but in a few years you'll forget you did.

svanarts · Post by **svanarts** » Fri May 26, 2006 11:59 pm

Aluminum dust is very dangerous if you keep tracking it across your wife's cream-colored rugs. Ask me how I know.

Dan A · Post by **Dan A** » Sun May 28, 2006 9:54 am

better kick your shoes off at the door

Dan

JohnR · Post by **JohnR** » Sun May 28, 2006 2:21 pm

svanarts wrote:Aluminum dust is very dangerous if you keep tracking it across your wife's cream-colored rugs. Ask me how I know.

Boy, can I relate to that one!

RivetBangers.com

Is Aluminum Dust Dangerous?!?

Is Aluminum Dust Dangerous?!?

toothpaste!

funny