Manganese: a review of occupational and environmental toxicology

The following topics are dealt with in this brief review concerning the hygienic and toxicologic aspects of manganese: Occurrence, production, uses; experimental pathology; clinical toxicology; occupational and environmental hygiene aspects of human exposure. The preventive measures outlined: reduction of dust concentration to comply with the established MAC value, in extreme situation even with the use of personal protection; preventive pre-employment examinations to exclude from work all individuals with liver and kidney lesions, blood dyscrasia, organic CNS lesions and progressive lung diseases; elaboration of suitable exposure tests, especially the method of hair analysis, to ensure the biological monitoring of environmental exposure to manganese.