Toxicity of Aluminum and Its Speciation Analysis

Abstract

Aluminum, especially, cationic form of A³⁺, is toxic to animals and plants. In this mini-review, after the toxicity of aluminum toward plants and its neurotoxicity in human beings are briefly reviewed, the present status of the speciation analysis for aluminum in biological and environmental samples is introduced. Some plants have evolved mechanisms resistant to aluminum toxicity where organic acids such as malate, citrate and oxalate may play a central role. The potentialities of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry for identifying such aluminum-organic acid complexes are discussed.