German BfR forum to focus on aluminium health risks
Set to be held on the 26 and 27 November in Berlin, the event will address aluminium in the cosmetic and other consumer products sectors during which experts will provide information on the current state of research.
The BfR is calling for further research and information on aluminium that is used in the likes of antiperspirants and this forum will act as a platform for government officials, business professionals, the media, NGOs and the public to gather and take part in discussions.
Agenda
Questions like 'How much aluminium do we intake via food, drugs, packaging and cosmetic products?' and 'Should contact with aluminium be reduced, and if so, what are measures that individual consumers can take?' will be addressed in an effort to reach more solid conclusions.
A detailed programme as well as the registration form for this forum will be published in the coming few weeks.
In its' most recent assessment of the dermal intake of aluminium salts from antiperspirants, the Institute reported it found levels of around 10.5µg.
According to BfR, to prevent too high an intake of aluminium, excessive use of antiperspirants containing aluminium should be avoided. In addition to this, deodorants that do not contain aluminium salts should be used after shaving or if the skin in the armpits is damaged.
The estimated intake of aluminium from antiperspirants could possibly lie within the range determined by the European Food Safety Authority as the tolerable weekly intake.
Keeping on top of cosmetic regulation...
In a bid to keep on top of cosmetic regulation the Institute also recently dedicated a Q&A section on the risk assessment of hazardous substances in cosmetics.
The dedicated area provides consumers with information on a fairly large range of cosmetic products, from shampoos to creams, toothpastes, lipsticks and sunscreen applications.
The BfR hopes this section of the site will help to debunk any concerns about human health risks on certain products.
