Is Aluminum Chlorohydrate Safe ?

Aluminum chlorohydrate, also called ACH, it is a simple form of a group of FDA-recognized aluminum-based salts that can be used to reduce underarm wetness in underarm antiperspirant products. ACH Aluminum chlorohydrate is also widely used in drinking water purification and industrial wastewater treatment to remove the total suspended solids(TSS), oil, turbidity and some insoluble BOD, COD.

ACH Aluminum chlorohydrate. Molecular Formula: Al₂(OH)₅Cl·2H₂O. Molecular Weight: 210.48.
According to the Certification for Safe Transport of Chemicals, Aluminum chlorohydrate is not classified in Explosive. Aluminum chlorohydrate is not classified in Flammable Substances. Aluminum chlorohydrate is not classified in Oxidizing Substances and Organic Peroxides. Aluminum chlorohydrate is not classified in Toxic and Infectious Substances. Aluminum chlorohydrate is not classified in Radioactive Materials. Aluminum chlorohydrate is not classified in Corrosives. Aluminum chlorohydrate presents no other dangerous properties. Aluminum chlorohydrate is safe to be transported both by air and by sea.

For Using in Drinking Water Purification as Flocculant and Coagulant:
The performance of ACH Aluminum chlorohydrate is much better than PAC on both the turbidity control and aluminum residue. By well controlling the dosage of ACH Aluminum chlorohydrate, aluminum residue even can’t be detected in treated outlet water, with less aluminum residue. ACH Aluminum chlorohydrate is in NSF(National Sanitation Foundation) Official Listings as Drinking Water Treatment Chemicals - Coagulation & Flocculation. ACH Aluminum chlorohydrate is safe for drinking water treatment.

For Using as Raw Materials for Cosmetics:
ACH Aluminum chlorohydrate is one of the 18 aluminum-based active ingredients approved by the Food and Drug Association for use in over the counter underarm antiperspirant products. Aluminum chlorohydrate works by forming a temporary plug within the sweat duct that help reduce the flow of sweat to the skin's surface. While the aluminum chlorohydrate reduces the amount of sweat on the skin surface, the ingredient also creates a skin environment which is hostile to the growth of malodor-producing bacteria to help reduce underarm odor.

There are 18 aluminum-based salts recognized by the US Food and Drug Administration to reduce underarm wetness. These include a number of forms of aluminum-based salts including aluminum chloride, aluminum chlorohydrate, and aluminum zirconium salts. Among these options, aluminum chloride is the simplest form but its inherent acidity means that it can be damaging to many fabrics and some may find it irritating to the underarm. ACH aluminum chlorohydrate is the simplest salt that is not damaging to fabric and is generally well-tolerated on the skin.

To the millions of people who use aluminum-based antiperspirants daily, they may have wondered: Is the product I've been applying to my body every day for years really putting my health at risk? Is aluminum chlorohydrate safe to use?

Antiperspirants and Cancer
Researchers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), a part of the National Institutes of Health, are not aware of any conclusive evidence linking the use of underarm antiperspirants and the development of breast cancer. It says:
No studies to date have confirmed any substantial adverse effects of aluminum that could contribute to increased breast cancer risks. A 2014 review concluded there was no clear evidence showing that the use of aluminum-containing underarm antiperspirants or cosmetics increases the risk of breast cancer.”

Antiperspirants and Alzheimer's Disease
Back in the 1960s, a few studies found high levels of aluminum in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease. The research suddenly called into question the safety of everyday household items such as aluminum cans, antacids, and antiperspirants.

But the findings of these early studies weren’t replicated in later research, and experts have essentially ruled out aluminum as a possible cause of Alzheimer's. There was a lot of research that looked at the link between Alzheimer's and aluminum, and there hasn't been any definitive evidence to suggest there is a link.

According to the experts interviewed for this story, the aluminum in antiperspirants doesn't even typically make its way into the body. The aluminum salts do not work as antiperspirants by being absorbed in the body. They work by forming a chemical reaction with the water in the sweat to form a physical plug... which is deposited in the sweat duct, producing a blockage in the areas that it's applied. Even with nicks from shaving, the amount is so negligible that it doesn't make a whole lot of scientific sense."

Antiperspirants and Kidney Disease
Concerns about antiperspirants and kidney disease were first raised many years ago, when dialysis patients were given a drug called aluminum hydroxide to help control high phosphorus levels in their blood. Because their kidneys weren't functioning properly, their bodies couldn't remove the aluminum fast enough, and it began accumulating. Scientists noticed that dialysis patients who had these high aluminum levels were more likely to develop dementia.

As a result, the FDA requires antiperspirant labels to carry a warning that reads, "Ask a doctor before use if you have kidney disease." Yet this warning is only meant for people whose kidneys are functioning at 30% or less.

In reality, it's almost impossible to absorb enough aluminum through the skin to harm the kidneys. "Unless you eat your stick or spray it into your mouth, your body can't absorb that much aluminum," says nephrologist Leslie Spry, MD, FACP, spokesperson for the National Kidney Foundation.

Is aluminum chlorohydrate safe?
Based on a thorough review of the literature available, and the recommendations of the American Cancer Society and the Alzheimer’s Association, we believe that the use of aluminum chlorohydrate is safe.

If you are concerned about the risk of Alzheimer’s or breast cancer, we encourage you to contact your healthcare professional to address your individual circumstances.

As recommended by the FDA, you should consult your doctor about the use of antiperspirant if you suffer from kidney disease. Since the kidneys play an important role in eliminating aluminum from the body, the FDA decided it was prudent to alert consumers who have kidney disease to the fact that their exposure to aluminum from use of antiperspirants might need to be discussed with their physician in order to make sure that the aluminum will not accumulate in the body. As with any OTC product, antiperspirants should be kept away from children.