Aluminum is the third most naturally abundant element in the environment, found in food, water, pharmaceutical as well as a wide range of consumer products. The overwhelming mass of toxicity data available does not indicate any risk of harmful effects from using any cosmetic products that contain Aluminum. The amount of Aluminum absorbed through the skin from antiperspirants is significantly less than average daily exposure from food and water. Antiperspirants are designed to work on the surface of the skin, and so the products would not work if there was a significant amount absorbed. Published literature along with industry studies demonstrates a negligible potential for Aluminum salts to penetrate the skin (1). If a small amount were absorbed, this would be tiny in comparison to the amounts we consume in the foods we eat daily.

Some people may be concerned about the use of Aluminum in antiperspirants and other everyday products, believing that it can damage health. It has been suggested that Aluminum may be a possible contributory factor for Alzheimer's disease. The ‘Aluminum hypothesis’ was first put forward in 1965 when it was shown that the injection of Aluminum compounds into rabbits caused tangle like formations in nerve cells (reference 2). However, these experimental tangles differ in structure and composition from the tangles that are found in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. Since then a number of other circumstantial links between Aluminum and Alzheimer’s disease have been claimed. However, experts and research bodies including the Alzheimer's Association and the FDA have concluded that at the present time, there is no evidence that convincingly demonstrates a link between Aluminum and Alzheimer’s disease. The FDA has concluded that although "the literature shows the issue of aluminum toxicity and Alzheimer's disease remains controversial and is not resolved," the available evidence is "insufficient to link aluminum to Alzheimer's disease."

There have been rumors on the Internet and in the popular press claiming that antiperspirants may be linked to breast cancer. Leading cancer research organizations have stated that there is no plausible biological mechanism by which antiperspirants could cause breast cancer. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has said that “no conclusive research” links antiperspirants and the subsequent development of breast cancer, though the NCI observed that the results of some studies suggest that additional research is needed. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/AP-Deo

A study reported in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (JNCI), October 16, 2002, conclusively debunks the rumor circulating on the Internet which falsely states that antiperspirant use causes breast cancer. Researchers from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of Washington both(Seattle) conducted an extensive population-based case-control study. They concluded that “These findings do not support the hypothesis that antiperspirant use increases the risk for breast cancer.” The researchers also said that “there was no evidence” of risk for breast cancer from the use of deodorants. Furthermore, according to the American Cancer Society, there have been many extremely thorough epidemiological studies of breast cancer risk and they have not found antiperspirant use to be a risk factor for breast cancer, much less the “leading cause” of the disease.

The FDA now requires all antiperspirant products to include a warning statement that advises people with kidney disease to consult a physician before using the product. Since the kidneys play a large role in eliminating Aluminum from the body, the FDA decided it was prudent to alert consumers who have some kidney function impairment to the fact that their exposure to Aluminum from use of antiperspirants might need to be discussed with their doctor. “Kidney disease” is a non-specific term that is used to describe a broad range of kidney dysfunctions. In general, the new warning statement is meant for kidney disease patients who are on an Aluminum-restricted diet and who may not be able to excrete the low levels of Aluminum in the body that may result from antiperspirant use. More information on this issue can be found on the web site of the American Society of Nephrology, the professional medical society for doctors specializing in kidney disease.

Link to the American Society of Nephrology: http://www.asn-online.org/facts_and_statistics/