Work should take place in a safe and healthy working environment; work conditions should be consistent with workers’ well-being and human dignity; work should offer real possibilities for personal achievement, self-fulfillment, and service to society.- International Labor Organization (ILO)

Health effects of manganese exposure

Even though manganese is everywhere (in rocks, soil, water, and even our food!), we rarely find it as a pure metal. The only exception is in some space rocks! This metal is quite dull-colored, challenging, and easily breaks. But here’s the cool part: people have been mixing manganese with iron for centuries to make steel extra strong and tough!

Manganese is the fourth most commonly used essential metal. Most of the time (90%), it’s added to iron to make steel more robust and complex, making things like buildings and cars more durable. To get manganese, we mine rocks containing it, especially a black one called pyrolusite. Another pink rock called rhodochrosite also has manganese, but it’s not as expected. Then, we use heat to separate the manganese metal from these rocks.

The primary chemical forms of manganese of concern for occupational safety include:

  • Manganese chloride is used in manufacturing dry cell batteries, as a supplemental trace element in animal feed, as a catalyst for chlorination of organic compounds, and as a precursor of other manganese compounds.
  • Industries use Manganese dioxide in several ways: making dry cell batteries, porcelain, glass-bonding materials, and even creating amethyst glass (other manganese oxides and salts act as colorful ingredients and bleaching agents in the glass and ceramic industry). Manganese also has several different applications: it acts as a flux in electric steel welding, torches, fireworks, and matches and serves as the starting material for producing other manganese compounds.
  • Manganese sulfate gets a lot of use: it strengthens fertilizers, adds strength and shine to ceramics and glazes, helps varnishes dry properly, combats fungus in plants (as a fungicide), and even provides essential nutrients for healthy livestock.

Potassium permanganate is a super helpful tool! Imagine a pink crystal that can do a bunch of cool stuff. They make it by zapping a black rock (pyrolusite) with electricity while it’s mixed with solid lye. This unique pink crystal we can then use for many things like:

  • Killing germs: It acts as a disinfectant, fighting bacteria and other nasty things that can make you sick.
  • Keeping pools clean: It works as an anti-algal agent, preventing those slimy green things from growing in swimming pools.
  • Making dirty water drinkable: It helps purify water by removing impurities.
  • Cleaning up metal: It can be used as a metal cleaner, bringing back the shine.
  • Whitening things up: It acts as a bleach, removing stains and lightening colors.
  • Making leather: It’s a tanning agent that turns animal hides into leather.
  • Keeping things fresh: It can be used as a preservative to extend the life of fruits and flowers.

Manganese dioxide and potassium permanganate are like super-powered cleaners. They can break down dirt and other things well but are too strong for everyday use. Here’s the catch: they can create harmful chlorine gas (like in swimming pools, but much more robust) and sometimes even cause explosions when cleaning certain materials. It’s best to leave these powerful cleaners to the professionals!

Manganese isn’t just for steel! Chemists have created particular forms of manganese that help us in other ways:

  • Fighting fungus on crops: Some, like Maneb and Mancozeb, are super effective at eliminating fungus in our fruits and vegetables- this means some manganese might end up in the food, but it’s safe.
  • Cleaner-burning engines: Another type, MMT, helps engines in cars and factories burn fuel more efficiently. It can even replace lead, which used to be added to gasoline but is no longer safe.
  • Safer medical scans: Scientists also consider using manganese for medical imaging tests- this could be a better option than some things used today that might have side effects.

Occupational manganese exposure

Manganese is a valuable metal, but working with it can get dusty! People can breathe in tiny particles of manganese dust and fumes in a few situations:

  • Mining and metal work: This includes digging up manganese ore, processing it, using it to make steel more robust, and even cutting or welding steel that already contains manganese.
  • Other factories: Making batteries, glass, pottery, and special chemicals can also involve manganese dust. Some labs might even have manganese dust if they use certain compounds.

In all these cases, it’s essential to ensure workers are protected by wearing masks and working in well-ventilated areas to avoid breathing too much manganese.

Acute health effects of manganese exposure

Mucous membrane irritation, bronchitis, and pneumonitis, burns, and corrosion of the respiratory tract; burns and corrosion of the external body surface; burns and corrosion of the mouth, pharynx, and esophagus; burns and corrosion of the eye and adnexa, and acute toxic brain damage are acute diseases caused by manganese.

Short description of the disease

Usually, working with manganese isn’t a big problem in the short term. It’s pretty rare for people to get sick right away. However, breathing in too much manganese dust or fumes can irritate your nose, throat, and lungs. More potent forms of manganese, like potassium permanganate, can be hazardous. Contact with these can burn your skin, eyes, and even your mouth and throat if you swallow them (which isn’t common in workplaces). In sporadic cases, this might even affect your brain. That’s why it’s essential to be careful and wear proper protection when working with manganese.

Signs and symptoms

If someone breathes in a lot of manganese dust all at once- it can irritate their airways like a nasty cold- this might cause coughing, trouble breathing, and even some eye irritation. In sporadic cases, it can even affect the brain, causing sudden mood swings, hallucinations, and aggressive behavior- this might be called “manganese madness.” Still, luckily, it’s treatable and doesn’t happen often. That’s why it’s essential to wear proper protection when working with manganese dust to avoid these problems.

Chronic health effects of manganese exposure

Manganism, Chronic toxic brain damage

Short description of the disease

Imagine tiny particles of manganese dust getting stuck in your brain over time- this can lead to a condition called Manganism, which acts a bit like Parkinson’s disease. It makes moving smoothly, keeping your balance, and remembering things harder. The parts of your brain that control movement are most affected- this can cause problems like shaky hands, stiff muscles, trouble walking, and a blank expression on your face. In some cases, if you stop breathing in the dust, these issues might improve. But if exposed for a long time, the damage might be permanent. That’s why wearing protective gear is essential to avoid breathing in manganese dust and keep your brain healthy.

Signs and symptoms

Memory problems: People with Manganese poisoning might forget things more efficiently or have trouble making good decisions.

Anxiety and hallucinations: They might feel stressed, worried, or even see or hear things that aren’t there.

Movement problems: This can be similar to Parkinson’s disease. Movements become slow and stiff, and muscles might cramp or jerk uncontrollably. Walking can become complicated, and keeping balance might be a challenge. The face might appear frozen with little expression.

It’s important to remember that this is a worst-case scenario if a lot of manganese dust exposes someone for a long time. It’s not common, and the risk is shallow with proper protection.

Manganese-related asthma

Breathing in manganese dust for a long time can damage your lungs, making breathing harder- this can also lead to asthma, which causes wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath.

Preventing Manganese Exposure

The key to preventing manganese poisoning is controlling the dust and fumes. Special drills with water should be used instead of dry drills that create more dust in mines. Blasting should happen after everyone leaves for the day so there’s time to clear the air before workers return. Good air circulation throughout the workplace is also essential. In some situations, workers might need to wear unique breathing masks to avoid high dust levels, especially for short bursts of exposure.

A high standard of personal hygiene is essential. Factories can provide adequate sanitary facilities and clothing. Factories must allow workers sufficient time to take a compulsory shower after work, change clothes, and not eat at the workplace. Smoking at work should also be prohibited.

The recent addition of manganese-based additives like MMT to gasoline has raised concerns about potential health risks from environmental exposure- this highlights the importance of monitoring not just workplace air quality and dust particle size but also other possible sources of manganese exposure for workers. These could include contaminated food, water, or even what workers bring for lunch. By understanding how manganese can enter the body, companies can take steps to minimize the risk of poisoning.

Not everyone reacts to manganese dust the same way. Some people with mental health problems, nerve disorders, or iron deficiency might be more sensitive to its effects. For example, a lack of iron in your diet can lead your body to absorb more manganese than usual- this is why factories must monitor workers with these conditions closely to avoid getting sick. Also, people who are already very ill or have trouble breathing shouldn’t be around manganese dust. The best way to stay safe is to avoid exposure whenever possible.

There are safety guidelines (threshold limit values) for how much manganese dust workers can be exposed to daily. These guidelines aim to minimize the risk of lung and brain health problems. However, scientists are still figuring out exactly how little manganese dust someone can breathe in before it starts to affect their health- this is why it’s essential to be extra cautious and avoid unnecessary exposure whenever possible.

Takeaway

By taking proactive steps like implementing wet drilling methods, maintaining proper ventilation, and providing respiratory protection, workplaces can minimize dust exposure and safeguard worker health. Ongoing research into environmental sources of manganese, like MMT additives in gasoline, will help us further reduce overall exposure risks. Ultimately, understanding how manganese enters the body allows us to develop effective prevention strategies and ensure the safe use of this critical metal.

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