[Use of a simplified atomic absorption method for the prophylactic study of manganese in the blood serum]

Manganese content in blood sera of healthy subjects fluctuates within the interval of 0.008 mkg/ml to 0.032 mkg/ml--hence the requirement of especially sensitive methods for manganese determination. Atom-absorption methods are very suitable in this case because a minimal preparation of the sample is required. The authors intended the elaboration of a direct atom-absorption method, tracing manganese content in blood and urine. Manganese content in blood serum is rather close to the detectable minimum for manganese in its determination with the applied two-beam atom-absorption spectro-photometer. In the present work, the results from the prophylactic examinations of workers are presented, being in occupational contact with manganese (occupational-pathological screening) as well as from a control group of practically healthy volunteers--blood donors. Values in the interval 0.1017--0.032 mkg/ml with a standard deviation of 0.003 mkg/ml were obtained for the control group. The group of the workers examined, being in contact with manganese aerosols has an average value of 0.034 mkg/ml. Eighty eight per cent of all examined are in the interval from 0.01--0.05 mkg/ml. The rest 12 per cent work in shops where manganese elimination is higher. The method proposed is productive (up to 100 manganese determinations in diluted 1:1 serum per hour).