Abstract
Methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT) is an organic additive used in Canada since 1976 as an anti-knock agent in unleaded gasoline. Its combustion leads to the emission of Mn oxides, especially Mn3O4. Since no study has assessed the potential risk of chronic exposure to low concentrations resulting from these emissions, the present investigation was undertaken to assess the level of environmental and occupational exposure of the human population. The multimedia exposure of two groups of workers (garage mechanics and blue-collar workers) potentially exposed to different levels of Mn from the combustion of MMT was assessed using personal air samplers, a dietary compilation, water samples at their places of residence, an epidemiological questionnaire and blood and hair samples. Results show that garage mechanics were exposed on average to higher atmospheric Mn at work (0.42 µg/m3) than the blue-collar workers (0.04 µg/m3). However, the contribution of atmospheric Mn to the total absorbed dose was less than 1%, and well below the standards estabished for occupational or environmental exposure; food contributes more than 95% of the multimedia dose. The average whole blood Mn concentrations were similar for the two groups (0.67–0.76 µg/100 ml) and fall within the normal adult range. The average hair Mn concentrations were significantly higher for the garage mechanics (0.66 µg/g) than for the blue-collar workers (0.39 µg/g). The contribution of exogenous Mn versus endogenous Mn is questioned. As judged by the governmental standards or criteria for occupational and non-occupational environments, the current Mn levels in food, water and air may not cause any problems for the workers.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Abbott PJ (1987) Methylcyclopentanienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT) in petrol: the toxicological issues. Sci Total Environ 67:247–255
ACGIH (1992) Threshold limit values and biological exposure indices. American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, Cincinnati, Ohio
Barbeau A (1984) Manganese and extrapyramidal disorders (a critical review and tribute to Dr George C. Cotzias). Neurotoxicology 5:13–36
Baruthio F, Guillard O, Arnaud J, Pierre F, Zawislak R (1988) Determination of manganese in biological materials by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry: a review. Clin Chem 34:227–234
Brault N, Loranger S, Courchesne F, Kennedy G, Zayed J (1994) Bioaccumulation of manganese in plants: influence of MMT as gasoline additive. Sci Total Environ 153:77–84
Caine DB (1991) Neurotoxins and degeneration in the central nervous system. Neurotoxicology 12:335–340
Collipp PJ, Chen SY, Maitinsky S (1983) Manganese in infant formulas and learning disability. Ann Nutr Metab 27:488–494
Communauté Urbaine de Montréal (1991) Rapport annuel de qualite de l'air. Sommaire des résultats - 1990. Service de l'Envi-ronment, Assainissement de l'Air et de l'eau, Montreal, Quebec
Communauté Urbaine de Montréal (1993) Rapport annuel de qualité de l'air. Sommaire des resultats - 1992. Service de l'Environnement, Assainissement de l'Air et de l'eau, Montréal, Quèbec
Cooper WC (1984) The health implications of increased manganese in the environment resulting from the combustion of fuel additives: a review of the literature. J Toxicol Environ Health 14:23–46
Crump KS, Shipp AM, Clewel HJ, Gentry PR (1994) Critical review of EPA's revised manganese RIC, ICE Kaiser, Ruston, La.
Dann T (1990) Inhalable particulate matter (PM10) sampling network (1984–1987). PMD #90-3, Environment Canada, Pollution Measurement Division, Ottawa, Ontario
Davidsson L, Cederblad A, Lönnerdal B, Sandström B (1989) Manganese retention in man: a method for estimating manganese absorption in man. Am J Clin Nutr 49:170–179
Davis DW, Hsiao K, Ingels R, Shikiya J (1988) Origins of manganese in air particulates in California. JAPCA 38:1152–1157
Drolet C, Zayed J (1994) Manganese Intake of adult men consuming self-selected diets. J Can Diet Ass 55:184–187
Eads EA, Lambdin CE (1973) A survey of trace metals in human hair. Environ Res 6:247–252
Environment Canada (1987) National inventory of sources and emissions of manganese - 1984. EPS 5/MM/1, Conservation and Protection, Environmental Analysis Branch, Ottawa, Ontario
Fergusson JE, Holzebecher J, Ryan DE (1983) The sorption of copper(II), manganese(II), Zinc(II) and arsenic(III) onto human hair, and their desorption. Sci Total Environ 33:121–135
Février PA (1994) Étude des indicateurs Biologiques de l'exposition des travailleurs au manganèse de source MMT. Msc Thesis. University of Montréal
Foo SC, Khoo NY, Heng A, Chua LH, Chia SE, Ong CN, Ngim CH, Jeyaratnam J (1993) Metals in hair as biological indices for exposure. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 65:S83-S86
Guillard O, Brugier JC, Pieiou A, Menard M, Gombert J, Reiss D (1984) Improved determination of manganese in hair by use of a miniautoclave and flameless atomic absorption spectrometry with Zeeman background correction: an evaluation in unexposed subjects. Clin Chem 30:1642–1645
Health and Welfare Canada (1978) Methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT): an assessment of the human health implications of its use as a gasoline additive. 78-EHD-21, Environmental Health Directorate, Health Protection Branch, Ottawa, Ontario
Health and Welfare Canada (1990) Nutrition recommendations. Scientific Review Committee, Ottawa, Ontario
Hua M-S, Huang C-C (1991) Chronic occupational exposure to manganese and neurobehavioral function. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 13:495–507
Hurley LS, Keen CL (1987) Manganese. In: Mertz W (ed) Trace elements in human and animal nutrition. Academic Press, New York, pp 185–223
Iregren A (1990) Psychological test performance in foundry workers exposed to low levels of manganese. Neurotoxicol Teratol 12:673–675
Joselow MM, Tobias E, Koehler R, Coleman S, Bogden J, Gause D (1978) Manganese pollution in the city environment and its relationship to traffic density. Am J Public Health 68:557–560
Keen CL, Clegg MS, Lönnerdal B, Hurley LS (1983) Whole-blood manganese as an indicator of body manganese. Engl J Med 308:1230
Kennedy GG (1989) Trace element determination in polymers by neutron activation. In: Sacher E, Pireaux J-J, Kowalczyk SP (eds) Melallization of polymers. American Chemical Society, Washington, D.C.
Kondakis XG, Makris N, Leotsinidis M, Prinou M, Papapetropoulos T (1989) Possible health effects of high manganese concentration in drinking water. Arch Environ Health 44:175–178
Laker M (1982) On determining trace element levels in man: the uses of blood and hair. Lancet II:260–262
Loranger S, Bibeau MC, Zayed J (1994a) Manganese in drinking water and its contribution on human exposure. Rev Epidém Santé Publ 42:315–321
Loranger S, Demers G, Kennedy G, Forget E, Zayed J (1994b) The pigeon (Columba livia) as a monitor of atmospheric manganese contamination from mobile sources. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 27:311–317
Loranger S, Forget E, Zayed J (1994c) Manganese contamination in Montreal in relation to traffic density. Water Air Soil Pollut 74:385–396
Loranger S, Zayed J (1994) Manganese and lead concentration in ambient air and emission rates from unleaded and leaded gasoline between 1981 and 1992 in Canada: a comparative study. Atmos Environ 28:1645–1651
Loranger S, Zayed J (1995) Contribution of methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT) to atmospheric Mn concentration near expressway: dispersion modeling estimations. Atmos Environ (in press)
McNeely RN, Neimanis VP, Dwyer L (1979) Water quality source book. A guide to water quality parameters. Environment Canada, Ottawa, Ontario
Mena I (1980) Manganese. In: Waldron HA (ed) Metals in the environment. Academic Press, London, pp 199–220
Mena I, Horiuchi K, Burke K, Cotzias GC (1969) Chronic manganese poisoning: individual susceptilibity and absorption of iron. Neurology 19:1000–1005
Mergler D, Huel G, Bowler R, Iregren A, Bélanger S, Baldwin M, Tardif R, Smargiassi A, Martin L (1994) Nervous system dysfunction among workers with long-term exposure to manganese. Environ Res 64:151–180
Morris ER (1987) Iron. In: Mertz W (eds) Trace elements in human and animal nutrition. Academic Press, New York, pp 79–142
National Research Council (1989) Recommended dietary allowances. In: NRC Food and Nutrition Board (eds). National Academy Press, Washington, D.C.
Organisation Mondiale de la Santé (1981) Le manganese. Critères d'hygiene de l'Environnement. Genève, Suisse
Roels H, Lauwerys R, Buchet J-P, Genet P, Sarhan MJ, Hanotiau I, de Fays M, Bernard A, Stanescu D (1987a) Epidemiological survey among workers exposed to manganese; effects on lung, central nervous system, and some biological indices. Am J Ind Med 11:307–327
Roels H, Lauwerys R, Genet P, Sarhan MJ, de Fays M, Hanotiau I, Buchet J-P (1987b) Relationship between external and internal parameters of exposure to manganese in workers from a manganese oxide and salt producing plant. Am J Ind Med 11:297–305
Royal Society of Canda (1986) Lead in the Canadian environment. Royal Commission, Ottawa, Ontario
Santé et Bien-être Social Canada (1989) Recommandations pour la qualité de l'eau potable au Canada. Sous-comité federal-provincial sur l'eau potable du Comité consultatif fédéral-provincial de l'hygiène du milieu et du travail. Ottawa, Ontario
SAS Institute Inc (1985) SAS user's guide: statistics. SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, N.C.
Shrestha KP (1989) Trace elements in hair: a study of residents in Darjeeling (India) and San Diego, California (U.S.A). Sci Total Environ 79:171–177
Sierra P, Loranger S, Kennedy G, Zayed J (1995) Occupational and environmental exposure of garage mechanics and blue workers to airborne manganese arising from the combustion of MMT (methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl) in unleaded gasoline. Am Ind Hyg Assoc (in press)
Stauber JL, Florence TM (1989) Manganese in scalp hair: problems of exogenous manganese and implications for manganese monitoring in Groote Eylandt aborigines. Sci Total Environ 83:85–98
Sukumar A, Subramanian R (1992) Trace elements in scalp hair of manufacturers of fireworks from Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu. Sci Total Environ 114:161–168
Task Group on Lung Dynamics (1966) Deposition and retention models for internal dosimetry of the human respiratory tract. Health Phys 12:173
Ter Haar GL, Griffing ME, Brandt M, Oberding DG, Kapron M (1975) Methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl as an antiknock: composition and fate of manganese exhaust products. JAPCA 25:858–860
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (1992) Manganese. Public Health Service, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Washington, D.C.
U.S. EPA (1984) Health assessment document for manganese. EPA-600/8-83-013F, Office of Health and Environmental Assessment, Environmental Criteria and Assessment Office, Cincinnati, Ohio
U.S. EPA (1990) Comments on the use of methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl in unleaded gasoline. Office of Research and Development, Research Triangle Park, N.C.
U.S. EPA (1993) Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS). Health risk assessment for manganese. Office of Health and Environmental Assessment, Cincinnati, Ohio
Wang JD, Huang CC, Huang YH, Chiang JR, Lin JM, Chen JS (1989) Manganese induced parkinsonism: an outbreak due to an unrepaired ventilation control system in a ferromanganese smelter. Br J Ind Med 46:856–859
Wennberg A, Hagman M, Johansson L (1992) Preclinical neurophysiological signs of parkinsonism in occupational manganese exposure. Neurotoxicology 13:271–274
World Health Organization (1973) Trace elements in human nutrition: manganese. 532, WHO Expert Committee, Geneva, Switzerland
World Health Organization (1987) Manganese. In: WHO (ed) Air quality guidelines for Europe. WHO Regional Publications, Copenhagen, 262–272
Zayed J, Ducic S, Campanella G, Panisset J-C, André P, Masson H, Roy M (1990) Facteurs environnementaux dans l'étiologie de la maladie de Parkinson. Can J Neurol Sci 17:286–291
Zayed J, Gérin M, Loranger S, Sierra P, Bégin D, Kennedy G (1994) Occupational and environmental exposure of garage workers and taxi drivers to airborne manganese arising from the use of MMT (methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl) in unleaded gasoline. Am Ind Hyg Assoc 55:53–58
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Loranger, S., Zayed, J. Environmental and occupational exposure to manganese: a multimedia assessment. Int. Arch Occup Environ Heath 67, 101–110 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00572233
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00572233