Manganese in Lung Tissue
Manganese is an essential trace element and is the twelfth most abundant element in the earth's crust. While manganese is essential to humans, too much of it can be toxic if ingested or inhaled in large amounts over time. Exposure to manganese is a well-known occupational toxicant that causes a depletion of brain dopamine and a syndrome of motor dysfunction and memory loss that resembles Parkinson's disease.
Reports of increased concentrations of metals in lungs have been made in autopsy cases of Mexico City residents who died in the 1960s and 1990s. The residents who died in the 1990s had higher lung concentrations of metals, including cadmium, copper, cobalt and lead than the residents that died in the 1960s. Since methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl could be a substitute for lead in gasoline, more manganese has been emitted into the air in more recent years.
Because of the potential consequences of more manganese in the environment for people, and the reports that increased concentrations of metals like lead in lungs have been found, a study comparing levels of manganese in lung samples at the Instituto Nacional de Cardiologia department of pathology was performed. The study researchers examined individual characteristics relative to exposure of airborne pollutants and analyzed thirty-nine autopsies dating from the 1960s and 48 autopsies dating from the 1990s.
While the researchers were unable to conclude whether manganese poses a problem, especially since the use of samples representative of different decades of exposure might document increases in metal concentrations in the atmosphere, there are many factors that must be considered. There are different routes of manganese exposure, either through inhalation or ingestion, and its different effects on different population types is not conclusively known.
There is very little substantial information about manganese exposure and lung concentrations to allow anything besides speculation to be made. However, speculating manganese exposure is not detrimental to the population while continuing to increase the amount of manganese found in the environment, could later lead to dangerous effects. Some experts believe manganese exposure to children, and also to pregnant woman, could affect neurodevelopmental and neurobehavioral factors.
To learn more about manganese exposure from drinking water in children, and other various side effects of manganese,please contact an attorney.
