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Mechanisms of aluminium neurotoxicity in oxidative stress-induced ...

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INTRODUCTION<br />

Vary<strong>in</strong>g amounts <strong>of</strong> <strong>alum<strong>in</strong>ium</strong> are present naturally <strong>in</strong> groundwater and surface<br />

water, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g those used as sources <strong>of</strong> dr<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g water. Acidification <strong>of</strong> lakes and<br />

streams by acid ra<strong>in</strong> mobilize <strong>alum<strong>in</strong>ium</strong> from the soil to the aquatic environment<br />

<strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g the amount <strong>of</strong> this metal (Cronan and Schoefield 1979, Harris et al. 1996).<br />

Alum<strong>in</strong>ium concentrations <strong>in</strong> natural water normally are small but may vary <strong>in</strong> the<br />

urban areas (Constant<strong>in</strong>i and Giordano 1991) depend<strong>in</strong>g if <strong>alum<strong>in</strong>ium</strong> flocculents (most<br />

commonly alum or <strong>alum<strong>in</strong>ium</strong> sulphate) are used dur<strong>in</strong>g the treatment process for<br />

purification purposes for clarify<strong>in</strong>g turbid dr<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g water (Mart<strong>in</strong> 1986, Lévesque et al.<br />

2000).<br />

Dietary exposure<br />

Alum<strong>in</strong>ium is found <strong>in</strong> the tissues <strong>of</strong> many plants and animals. The<br />

concentration <strong>in</strong> foods varies widely, depend<strong>in</strong>g upon the product, the type <strong>of</strong><br />

process<strong>in</strong>g, and the geographical orig<strong>in</strong> (means range from

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