PAA: Manganese

PAA: Manganese

Manganism is a condition that occurs when someone has been exposed to toxic levels of manganese. Symptoms tend to mimic Parkinson's Disease and include gait disturbances, clumsiness, tremors, speech disturbances, and psychological disturbances.

 Metal Fume Fever 

Metal fume fever is a temporary condition caused by inhaling manganese fumes. Symptoms typically include chills, fever, upset stomach, vomiting, dryness of the throat, cough, weakness, and achiness.

New guideline reduces manganese exposure limit dramatically:

Chronic exposure to manganese oxide fumes, which occur when manganese metal is heated and reacts with oxygen, can lead to damage to the central nervous system. Welders are especially susceptible to this disease, called Manganism by the National Institutes of Health, because manganese is found in many welding rods and filler metals to promote hardness. The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists recently issued guidance that dramatically reduced suggested threshold limit values. Because many metal fabricators use this guidance to manage worker exposure, they now have to rethink how they approach personal protective equipment.