Water Manganese Exposure and Children’s Intellectual Function in Araihazar, Bangladesh

• DOI: 10.1289/ehp.8030
• Publication Date: 2005-08-09T20:51:48Z
• Authors: Gail A. Wasserman; Xinhua Liu; Faruque Parvez; Habibul Ahsan; Diane Levy; Pam Factor-Litvak; Jennie Kline; Alexander van Geen; Vesna Slavkovich; Nancy J. LoIacono; Zhongqi Cheng; Yan Zheng; Joseph H. Graziano
• Keywords: Maximum Contaminant Level; Cross-sectional study

Exposure to manganese via inhalation has long been known elicit neurotoxicity in adults, but little is about possible consequences of exposure drinking water. In this study, we report results a cross-sectional investigation intellectual function 142 10-year-old children Araihazar, Bangladesh, who had consuming tube-well water with an average concentration 793 μg Mn/L and 3 arsenic/L. Children mothers came our field clinic, where received medical examination which weight, height, head circumference were measured. Children's was assessed on tests drawn from the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, version III, by summing weighted items across domains create Verbal, Performance, Full-Scale raw scores. provided urine specimens measuring urinary As creatinine asked provide blood samples lead, As, Mn, hemoglobin concentrations. After adjustment sociodemographic covariates, Mn associated reduced Full-Scale, Verbal scores, dose–response fashion; low level no effect. United States, roughly 6% domestic household wells have concentrations that exceed 300 Mn/L, current U.S. Environmental Protection Agency lifetime health advisory level. We conclude both Bangladesh some are at risk Mn-induced neurotoxicity.