Manganese

Pure Manganese is a Silvery White metal, but usually it is prepared as reddish grey brittle & Extremely Hard Metal. Uses:- 1) As a Harder Metal:- Harder Steel is known as Ferro-Manganese, Silico-Manganese or Manganine 2) Used in dry cell batteries 3) Paint, Ink & Varnishes 4) For firework, matches, fertilizers & Drugs 5) Potassium Per Manganate is used as oxidizing agent. Metabolism:- It is an essential element of the body required for enzymes responsible for normal functioning of CNS, Skeletal & Respiratory System. They are mainly Glutamine Synthetase & Manganese SuperOxide Dis Mutase. It is poorly absorbed from the gut. In blood it is bound predominantly with RBCs. It is excreted mainly through Bile & small mount appears in the urine. Excretion through gut is enhanced by iron deficiency anaemia. Toxicity:1) It is mildly irritant to Eyes, Skin, & Mucous Membrane 2) Inhalation may produce an inflammatory reaction to lungs leading to increased susceptibility to infections. 3) Parkinsons Disease:- The most serious consequences of Manganese Poisoning is Parkinsons Disease. It is insidious & said to pass through 3 stages a) Stage 1:- There are no specific signs & symptoms of poisoning but the workers may complain of i) Anorexia ii) Apathy iii) Muscular Cramps iv) Joint Pain v) Irritability & vi) Lassitude b) Stage 2:- i) Signs of Dysarthria ii) Disturbance of gait iii) Excessive salivation iv) Organic Psychosis known as Manganic Madness, which disappears when actual disease starts. c) Stage 3:- i) Akinesia & Rigidity:- Most pronounced in lower limbs ii) Muscle Pain, Parasthesia & disturbance of speech. iii) Tremors:- Intensive tremors & NOT a Resting Tremors as seen in Idiopathic Parkinsonism iv) Dystonia:- Present in Manganese but not in Ideopathic Parkinsonism.

The disease is generally reversible, if detected at early stages, but development of Parkinsonian features denotes Permanent Damage to CNS

In true Parkinsonism the area of brain most affected is Substantia Nigra. The Stratum, & Palidium are generally little affected although their Dopamine Concentration in much reduced. Diagnosis:- Only by CT Scan & MRI Treatment:- 1) Removal from Exposure 2) EDTA OR 3) L DOPA OR 4) More recently Sodium Para Amino Salicylic Acid as a chelating agent