About Manganese
Manganese is the twelfth most common element in the Earth's crust that is found in soil, water, plants, and animals, as well as air particles. Workers mine and process manganese for various purposes and is used to manufacture products like batteries, fertilizers, pesticides, ceramics, as a gasoline additive, and dietary supplements. Everyday, people are exposed to manganese through their food, air, soil, and water that is recommended by the United Sates National Academy of Sciences to be ingested at a level less than 11 mg daily.
People living in an environment close to certain manganese using industries are at risk for a higher manganese exposure because of the airborne particles of the toxin. Although manganese is an essential micronutrient to humans, at high concentrations it is very toxic to humans and can cause many side effects including manganese poisoning and Parkinson's Disease. The manganese found in the human body is in the liver, bones, and kidneys.
Manganese metabolism is similar to iron in that it is slowly absorbed in the small intestines. The required daily amount of manganese in mg is:
- Infants 0-5 months= 0.5-0.7
- Infants 5-12 months= 0.7-1.0
- Children 1-3 yrs.= 1.0-1.5
- Ages 4-6= 1.5-2.
- Ages 7-10= 2.0-3.0
- Ages 11+ = 2.5-5.0
- Adults= 2.5-5.0
A list of some foods containing manganese and the amount is:
Manganese content of foods (mg/100g)
- Wheat germ 9
- Oyster 0.6
- Rolled oats 5
- Liver 0.25-0.36
- Wheat bran 4
- Cheese 0.017-0.19
- Cereals 2.4-4
- Fish 0.012-0.12
- Soybeans 3
- Kidneys 0.06-0.11
- Wheat whole grain bread 2.3
- Meat 0.02-0.08
- Parsley 3
- Cottage cheese 0.06
- Pulses 1.3-2
- Turkey 0.03-0.05
- Sorghum 1.9
- Chicken 0.02
- Rye bread 1
- Whole milk 0.003
- Rice 1
- Vegetables 0.05-0.75
- Pasta 0.73
- Fruit, berries 0.03-0.6s
- White bread 0.6
- Corn 0.5
- Potatoes 0.15
- Mushrooms 0.11
