Download BCUK Fact Sheet | Aluminium-based antiperspirant salts

BCUK Fact Sheet | Aluminium-based antiperspirant salts
Why is aluminium
antiperspirant?
used
in
Aluminium salts are the active ingredients used in
antiperspirants. The salts used include aluminium
chloride, aluminium chlorohydrate and aluminium
zirconium chlorohydrate complexes [1].
Antiperspirants are applied under the arm to
control sweating [2]. The aluminium compounds
act by blocking the top of the sweat ducts under
the arm to prevent sweat from escaping onto the
skin surface [3]. This reduces the moist
environment in which bacteria, that generate the
smell, thrive.
Aluminium salts are used in ‘antiperspirant deodorants’ to block
sweat ducts under the arm.
Aluminium is also found in our diet [5], through
use of antacids [6] and through use of aluminiumbased adjuvants in vaccinations [7].
Antiperspirants should be distinguished from
deodorants, which are used to either mask or stop
the smell. Perfumes are used to mask the smell
and, since it is bacteria on the skin’s surface that
generate smell from sweat, antibiotics are used to
kill bacteria so no smell is generated [4].
Why should we be concerned?
Aluminium is not a normal component of
biological systems and has many known adverse
properties linked to human diseases, especially
neurological diseases [8].
Where are aluminium salts found?
Aluminium has been shown to be absorbed
through intact skin from application of
antiperspirant under the arm [9]. Laboratory
studies have shown that six-fold more aluminium
is absorbed through human skin when the skin is
damaged in a procedure similar to shaving [10].
There are more than twenty-five aluminium
compounds used in cosmetic products. They are
used in lipsticks, toothpastes and antiperspirants.
They can be used in aerosols, sticks, rolls ons or
cream. It is possible to buy underarm cosmetics
that contain only deodorant, in which case they
should
be
labelled
‘aluminium
free’.
Antiperspirant salts are also used in other
personal care products to control perspiration in
other parts of the body.
Both the USA and the EU [11] include statements
of caution that antiperspirant should not be
applied to broken, damaged or irritated skin but
current cultural practices can include shaving
before antiperspirant application.
Breast Cancer UK Ltd, BM Box 7767, London, WC1N 3XX | www.breastcanceruk.org.uk | 0845 680 1322
Charity no: 1138866 | Company Number : 7348408
Registered Address: BCUK Ltd, Solva, Southwick Road, Denmead, Waterlooville, Hants, PO7 6LA
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BCUK Fact Sheet | Aluminium-based antiperspirant salts
How are aluminium salts linked
with breast cancer?
Whilst no studies have shown a direct causal link
between breast cancer and aluminium, recent
opinions have questioned or challenged their
ascribed safety for use in underarm cosmetics.
[12,13,14].
Usually antiperspirants are applied to the
underarm and upper chest area and are left on
the skin which allows for continuous exposure to
the aluminium salts. This is the region of the
breast where the majority of breast cancers start
In the UK, for example, over 50% start in the
upper outer quadrant of the breast near the
underarm[15].
Aluminium has been measured at higher levels in women with
breast cancer
Mortality from breast cancer results mainly from
tumour spread and this depends on the cancer
cells developing the ability to move away from
the site of origin to distant sites. Exposure of
human breast cancer cells to aluminium chloride
and aluminium chlorohydrate can make the
breast cancer cells more motile [24].
Recently, aluminium has been measured in
several human breast structures including breast
tissue [16,17], breast cysts [18] and nipple
aspirate fluid [19] all at higher levels than in
blood. In nipple aspirate fluids, levels of
aluminium were higher in women with breast
cancer than those without [20]. In the breast
cysts, levels were higher in the type 1 cysts, which
are those cysts more likely to be indicative of
cancer to come [21]. Other laboratory studies
show that human breast epithelial cells can be
turned into a cancerous phenotype by exposure
to aluminium chloride [22].
These concerns have been collated in a recent
scientific review [25].
Antiperspirants and breast cysts
Although breast cancer is given the highest
profile, it equates to only about 5% of breast
diseases. Gross cystic breast disease is the most
common benign breast disorder. On the basis that
aluminium salts are designed to block sweat ducts
under the arm and that breast cysts arise from
blocked breast ducts in the adjacent region of the
body, it has been suggested that breast cysts
might be caused by antiperspirant if sufficient
aluminium is absorbed into the underlying breast
tissue from long-term usage [25-27].
Lifetime exposure to oestrogen is an established
risk factor for breast cancer and aluminium has
been shown to act as a metalloestrogen, capable
of interfering in oestrogen action [23].
Breast Cancer UK Ltd, BM Box 7767, London, WC1N 3XX | www.breastcanceruk.org.uk | 0845 680 1322
Charity no: 1138866 | Company Number : 7348408
Registered Address: BCUK Ltd, Solva, Southwick Road, Denmead, Waterlooville, Hants, PO7 6LA
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BCUK Fact Sheet | Aluminium-based antiperspirant salts
Breast cysts are also more frequently located in
the upper outer quadrant of the breast close to
the underarm region for which an explanation is
lacking [25-27] and aluminium has been measured
at raised levels in breast cyst fluid [28].
Breast Cancer UK position:

Breast Cancer UK supports a ban on the
use of aluminium compounds in
cosmetics designed to be left on the skin
and, in particular, on their use in underarm antiperspirants.
 Breast Cancer UK supports an extension
of EU Article 60 (3) of the REACH
Regulation, to ensure EDCs (including
aluminium) are, by default, classed as
Substances of Very High Concern
(SVHC), for which no safe thresholds can
be determined (23).
 Breast Cancer UK supports the inclusion
of such chemicals to the REACH list of
most harmful chemicals (Article 57 on
SVHC), and support bans of these
chemicals where safer alternatives exist.
(Article 60.3).
Although cysts are not life-threatening, finding a
breast lump causes anxiety and treatment is
invasive. Some types of cysts can also be
indicative of increased risk of later development
of cancer. Several women have attested that
stopping use of antiperspirant can resolve the
formation of cysts [29].
Links with other diseases
As well as breast cancer, exposure to aluminium
has been linked to numerous human neurological
diseases including Alzheimer’s disease and
Parkinson’s disease [30].
What is the current regulatory
position?
performed by the French Agency in charge of
cosmetic products [32], by the Norwegian
Scientific Committee for food safety [33] and by
the German Institute in charge of cosmetic
products [34]. These reports concluded that,
based on current knowledge, aluminium in
cosmetic products cannot be considered safe. A
more recent review from the European Union
Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety
acknowledges gaps in our knowledge which
impede risk assessment (SCCS/1525/14 dated 27
March 2014) [35].
Aluminium chlorohydrate is limited to 25%
weight/volume (=25grams per 100ml) by the Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) of the USA and
aluminium
zirconium
chloride
hydroxide
complexes are limited in cosmetics to 20%
weight/volume (=20grams per 100 ml) by the FDA
and in the European Union under the European
Union Cosmetics Directive (EU Cosmetics Directive
76/768/EEC) [31].
Risk assessments linked to the use of aluminium
in cosmetic products have recently been
We would like to thank Dr Philippa Darbre, Associate Professor at the
School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, for her input and
assistance in putting together this fact sheet.
Breast Cancer UK Ltd, BM Box 7767, London, WC1N 3XX | www.breastcanceruk.org.uk | 0845 680 1322
Charity no: 1138866 | Company Number : 7348408
Registered Address: BCUK Ltd, Solva, Southwick Road, Denmead, Waterlooville, Hants, PO7 6LA
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BCUK Fact Sheet | Aluminium-based antiperspirant salts
References
1.Laden K, Felger CB. (1988) Antiperspirants and deodorants:
cosmetic science and technology series vol 7, Marcel Dekker, New
York.
2.Ibid.
3.Ibid.
4.iIbid.
5.Exley C. (2009) In: Molecular and Supramolecular Bioinorganic
Chemistry: Applications in Medical Sciences. (Ed. A.L.R. Merce, J.
Felcman, M.A.L. Recio), Nova Science Publishers Inc. New York, p 4568.
6.Ibid.
7.Tomljenovic L, Shaw CA. (2011). Aluminium vaccine adjuvants: are
they safe? Current Medicinal Chemistry 18: 2630-2637.
8.Exley C. (2009) op.cit.,
9.Flarend R, Bin T, Elmore D, Hem SL. (2001) A preliminary study of
the dermal absorption of aluminium from antiperspirants using
aluminium-26. Food Chem. Toxicol. 39: 163-168.
10.Pineau A, Guillard O, Fauconneau B, Favreau F, Marty MH, Gaudin
A, Vincent CM, Marrauld A, Marty JP. (2012). In vitro study of
percutaneous absorption of aluminium from antiperspirants through
human skin in the Franz diffusion cell. J. Inorg. Biochem. 110: 21-26.
11.Food and Drug Administration, Federal Register vol 47 (No 162)
(1982) 36492-36505; Food and Drug Administration, Federal Register
vol 68 (No 110) (2003) 34272-34293; EU Cosmetics Directive 76/768/
EEC [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?
uri=CONSLEG:1976L0768:20100301:en:PDF]
12.Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety. (2013). Risk
assessment of the exposure to aluminium through food and the use
of cosmetic products in the Norwegian population (http://
www.vkm.no/dav/a729a67e65.pdf).
13.Bundesinstitut fur Risikobewertung. (2014). Aluminiumhaltige
Antitranspirantien tragen zur Aufnahme von Aluminium bei. (report
in German) (http://www.bfr.bund.de/cm/343/aluminiumhaltigeantitranspirantien-tragen-zur-aufnahme-von-aluminium-bei.pdf).
14.European Commission Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety
(SCCS). (2014). Opinion on the safety of aluminium in cosmetic
products SCCS/1525/14. (http://ec.europa.eu/health/
scientific_committees/consumer_safety/docs/sccs_o_153.pdf).
15.Darbre PD. (2010). Environmental oestrogens and breast cancer:
evidence for combined involvement of dietary, household and
cosmetic xenoestrogens. Anticancer Research 30: 815-828.
16.Exley C, Charles LM, Barr L, Martin C, Polwart A, Darbre PD.(2007).
Aluminium in human breast tissue. J. Inorg. Biochem. 101: 1344-1346.
17.House E, Polwart A, Darbre P, Barr L, Metaxas G, Exley C. (2013).
The aluminium content of breast tissue taken from women with
breast cancer. J. Trace Elem. Med. Biol. 27: 257-266.
18.Mannello F, Tonti GA, Darbre PD. (2009). Concentration of
aluminium in breast cyst fluids collected from women affected by
gross cystic breast disease. J. Appl. Toxicol. 29: 1-6.
19.Mannello F, Tonti GA, Medda V, Simone P, Darbre PD. (2011).
Analysis of aluminium content and iron homeostasis in nipple
aspirate fluids from healthy women and breast cancer-affected
patients. J. Appl. Toxicol. 31: 262-269.
20.Mannello et. Al. (2011) ibid.
21.Mannello et al. (2009) op. cit.,
22.Sappino AP, Buser R, Lesne L, Gimelli S, Bena F, Belin D, Mandriota
SJ. (2012). Aluminium chloride promotes anchorage-independent
growth in human mammary epithelial cells. J. Appl. Toxicol. 32: 233243.
23.Darbre PD. (2006). Metalloestrogens: an emerging class of
inorganic xenoestrogens with potential to add to the oestrogenic
burden of the human breast. J. Appl. Toxicol. 26: 191-197.
24.Darbre PD, Bakir A, Iskakova E. (2013). Effect of aluminium on
migratory and invasive properties of MCF-7 human breast cancer
cells in culture. J. Inorg. Biochem. 128: 245-249.
25.Darbre PD, Mannello F, Exley C. (2013). Aluminium and breast
cancer: sources of exposure, tissue measurements amd mechanisms
of toxicological actions on breast biology. J. Inorg. Biochem. 128: 257261.
26.Darbre PD. (2001). Hypothesis: Underarm cosmetics are a cause of
breast cancer. Eur J. Cancer Prev. 10: 389-393.
27.Darbre PD. (2003) op. cit.,
28.Mannello et al. (2009) op. cit.,
29.Darbre PD. (2003) Review article: underarm cosmetics and breast
cancer. J. Appl. Toxicol. 23: 89-95.
30.Exley C. (2009) op. cit.,
31.Food and Drug Administration, Federal Register vol 47 (No 162)
(1982) 36492-36505; Food and Drug Administration, Federal Register
vol 68 (No 110) (2003) 34272-34293; EU Cosmetics Directive 76/768/
EEC [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?
uri=CONSLEG:1976L0768:20100301:en:PDF]
32.Afssaps (2011) Agence Française de Sécurité Sanitaire des Produits
de Santé. Evaluation du risqué lié à l’utilisation de l’aluminium dans
les produits cosmétiques. 43 pages (report in French) (http://
ansm.sante.fr/var/ansm_site/storage/original/application/
ad548a50ee74cc320c788ce8d11ba373.pdf)
33.Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety. (2013). Risk
assessment of the exposure to aluminium through food and the use
of cosmetic products in the Norwegian population (http://
www.vkm.no/dav/a729a67e65.pdf).
34.Bundesinstitut fur Risikobewertung. (2014). Aluminiumhaltige
Antitranspirantien tragen zur Aufnahme von Aluminium bei. (report
in German) (http://www.bfr.bund.de/cm/343/aluminiumhaltigeantitranspirantien-tragen-zur-aufnahme-von-aluminium-bei.pdf).
35.European Commission Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety
(SCCS). (2014). Opinion on the safety of aluminium in cosmetic
products SCCS/1525/14. (http://ec.europa.eu/health/
scientific_committees/consumer_safety/docs/sccs_o_153.pdf).
For further information and more web resources please visit our website www.breastcanceruk.org.uk
Breast Cancer UK Ltd, BM Box 7767, London, WC1N 3XX | www.breastcanceruk.org.uk | 0845 680 1322
Charity no: 1138866 | Company Number : 7348408
Registered Address: BCUK Ltd, Solva, Southwick Road, Denmead, Waterlooville, Hants, PO7 6LA
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