There is no agreed upon safe level of ingesting aluminum or being exposed to it.

On the other hand, no adverse health affects (on people with healthy kidneys) have been proven from the following:

• Cooking with aluminum pots and pans
• Using deodorants with aluminum
• Ingesting the tiny amounts of aluminum in foods and beverages

The kidneys excrete the aluminum we absorb from our intestines. This process is usually very efficient. It prevents us from building up toxic levels of aluminum.

People with impaired kidneys, especially those on dialysis, tend to have much higher blood levels of aluminum compared to people with normal kidneys. However, they don't have any signs of aluminum poisoning.

That doesn't mean that aluminum is totally safe. Aluminum poisoning can cause serious health problems. These can include:

• Anemia
• Confusion and difficulty concentrating
• Bone disease

It is a challenge to know whether the above is related to the extra aluminum in the body or something else.