Manganese Work Exposure

Workers are chronically exposed to manganese everyday at high levels. Welders especially have been affected by manganese poisoning that alters nervous system functioning due to exposure to toxic fumes, fires, dust, and other hazards. Linked to serious conditions such as Parkinson's Disease, manganese is not recognized as an occupational hazard due to the manganese effects similar to non-occupational diseases. This disassociation demonstrates the dangers of adequately recognizing occupational diseases and allows workers in varying industries to continue being affected. In addition, people living close to mines or factories using manganese can become at risk for manganism and other manganese side effects.

In a sample of 30 manganese exposed foundry workers that were examined from two Swedish plants using a partly computerized psychological test battery, in ten performance tests the performance of manganese-exposed workers was compared to a matched control group of 60 workers. The criteria matched the age, geographical area, type of work, and the results on a test of verbal communication. The test found that the performance of the manganese-exposed workers was inferior to the control group on tests of simple reaction time, digit span, and finger tapping. The performance and amount of present manganese exposure level, or the number of years workers were exposed to manganese did not have any correlations. The National Institute of Occupation Health, Solna, Sweden sample indicates the exposure standards in Sweden and in most other countries is insufficient in protecting workers from negative effects on performance capacity.

Due to the serious dangers that manganese-exposure can cause and the inability to effectively identify the presence of it, it is important to be able to recognize the signs of the toxicity, which can include a pattern of slowing motor functions, increased tremor, reduced response to speed, enhanced olfactory sense, possible memory and intellectual deficits, and mood changes. If you have been exposed to manganese over the period of a couple months or more, it is advisable to get tested. There are certain occupations that allow for a greater risk for manganism and possibly Parkinson's Disease, including welders, factory workers, and miners. In addition, manganese is found in the environment due to the use of batteries, pesticides, and fertilizers that often times contain manganese.

Workplace manganese exposure limits are set to protect workers from the harmful effects of manganese:

OSHA: The legal airborne manganese exposure limit permissible is 5mg/m3 and cannot be exceeded at any time.

ACGIH: The recommended airborne manganese exposure limit is 5 mg/m3 for dust and compounds and cannot be exceeded at any time. The recommended airborne manganese exposure limit is 1 mg/m3 as manganese for fume averaged over an 8-hour workshift and is 3 mg/m3 for fume as a short-term manganese exposure limit.