Aluminium levels in Canadian infant formulate and estimation of aluminium intakes from formulae by infants 0-3 months old

Aluminium was determined in 282 cans of infant formulae and evaporated milks sold in Canada using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Milk-based formulae contained average (range) concentrations of 0.129 (0.010-0.36), 0.217 (0.17-0.56) and 0.717 (0.19-2.49) micrograms/g ('as sold') in ready-to-use, concentrated liquid and powder formulae, respectively. The corresponding concentrations in the soy-based formulae were 1.98 (0.40-6.4), 1.41 (0.59-2.29) and 9.44 (3.15-18.0) micrograms/g. Evaporated milk contained 0.093 (0.022-0.34) micrograms/g. The levels varied extensively according to formula brand; e.g. for ready-to-use formulae, the range of average concentrations by formula brand were 0.42-3.28 micrograms/g for soy-based and 0.020-0.22 micrograms/g for milk-based products. Estimated aluminium ingestion from formula or milk by infants up to 3 months old ranged from 0.5 microgram per kg body weight per day (microgram/kg/day) or 2 micrograms/day for 0-1 month olds fed cow milk exclusively to 219 micrograms/kg/day (1260 micrograms/day) for 1-3 month olds fed only soy-based formulae. Consumption of only the formulae brand having the highest mean aluminium level (3.28 micrograms/g) by 1-3 month old infants could result in an intake of 363 micrograms/kg/day (2088 micrograms/day). The estimates assume that the sole source of aluminium is the formula or milk and do not include any potential contribution from other foods or water.