Aluminum hydrochloride is a chemical compound used in water treatment as a flocculant and in personal care products as an antiperspirant. Concerns have been raised about its safety, but studies have found no health risks. Aluminum-free alternatives are available but may be less effective.
Aluminum hydrochloride is a group of chemical compounds that have various applications. These compounds are salts, produced by the reaction of aluminum with hydrochloric acid, and are sometimes referred to as polyaluminum chloride, depending on the precise chemical composition and application of the compound.
In water treatment, aluminum hydrochloride is used as a flocculant to encourage impurities in the water to aggregate into flakes of material that can be easily removed. The flocculant is removed along with the flakes of impurities it generates, leaving cleaner water behind. While flocculants cannot remove all impurities in a given water sample, they can significantly aid in cleaning, and removing bulky impurities will make additional treatments easier.
Personal care products such as deodorants and antiperspirants also contain aluminum chloride or the closely related aluminum chloride. Concentrated products designed for people who sweat a lot tend to have more of this compound to help repress and control sweating so people feel more comfortable as the day progresses. These concentrated products are most commonly used by people with hyperhidrosis, a condition in which they sweat excessively.
Some health and safety concerns have been raised regarding aluminum hydrochloride, because aluminum is able to pass through the blood-brain barrier. Aluminum is also not nutritionally necessary, so some people have suggested that absorbing it, even in trace amounts, through the skin, probably isn’t very beneficial. However, numerous studies have strongly suggested that there are no health risks from using this substance.
Claims that these compounds cause cancer have not been proven, despite extensive research by several organizations, and no link has been discovered between aluminum hydrochloride and Alzheimer’s disease or other neurological problems, despite the fact that it may pass through the blood-brain barrier. In light of this information, these compounds are generally recognized as safe, even though people may not necessarily want to consume or overuse them.
For people who prefer to err on the side of caution, deodorant and antiperspirant products that are free from aluminum hydrochloride and other aluminum compounds are available, although they can be slightly more expensive. The effectiveness of such products also varies widely; one of the reasons aluminum chlorohydrate is used in many products is that it is highly effective. Those concerned about odor in particular might consider taking other steps, such as getting rid of old clothing that harbors odor-causing bacteria or making dietary changes to produce less pungent sweat.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
