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What is Manganese Poisoning?
Is there a medical test to show whether
I've been exposed to manganese?
What is Parkinson’s Disease?
Has the federal government made
recommendations to protect human health?
Manganese is a metal that can be found in
many types of rock. It does not occur naturally in pure form; instead, it
is usually combined with oxygen, chlorine, carbon, or sulfur. Manganese is
a dietary element essential to maintaining good health. It is also
necessary for proper development in children.
Manganism, a disease caused by exposure to
excessive levels of manganese, attacks the central nervous system, kidney,
and liver. Manganism, or manganese poisoning, is characterized by
diminished motor skills and psychological disturbances. Manganism
has been classified as a Parkinson’s syndrome.
What is Manganese Poisoning?
Manganese poisoning, or manganese toxicity, causes several health effects.
The side effects of manganese poisoning include:
- Tremors
- Impaired hand-eye coordination
- Weakness or lethargy
- Clumsiness
- Awkward gait
- Difficulty with facial expression
- Speech difficulties
- Psychological problems
- Respiratory difficulties
- Decreased sexual function
- Damage to developing fetus
Is there a medical test to show whether
I've been exposed to manganese?
Tests are available that show levels of
manganese in different body fluids. Measurements of manganese in blood,
urine, feces, and scalp hair can be used to determine exposure to excess
levels of manganese by testing whether levels of the metal in your body
tissues are greater than normal. However, these tests cannot predict how
the levels in your tissues will affect your health. Your doctor can take
samples and send them to a testing laboratory
Parkinson’s disease is a disorder
characterized by shaky movements and difficulty with walking and
coordination. Parkinson’s disease is caused by the progressive destruction
of the nerve cells that control muscle movement.
Has the federal government made
recommendations to protect human health?
The EPA has set a non-enforceable guideline for the level of manganese in
drinking water at 0.05 milligrams per liter (0.05 mg/L).
The Occupational Safety
and Health Administration (OSHA) has set a limit of 5 milligrams manganese
per cubic meter (5 mg/m³) of workplace air for the average amount of
manganese during an 8-hour workday, 40-hour workweek.
The National Research
Council has recommended safe and adequate daily intake levels for
manganese that range from 0.3 to 1 mg/day for children up to 1 year, 1 to
2 mg/day for children up to age 10, and 2 to 5 mg/day for children 10 and
older.
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