Blood manganese levels and associated factors in a population-based study in Southern Brazil

ABSTRACTManganese (Mn) is an essential dietary nutrient for human health serving as a cofactor for many enzymes; however, exposure to excessive quantities of Mn may lead to toxicity with symptoms analogous to Parkinson’s disease (PD). Population-based biomonitoring is an effective tool for characterizing the body burden of environmental or occupational pollutants, including Mn. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to (1) estimate reference values (RV) for blood Mn in an adult population and (2) assess the variables that were associated with higher blood metal levels. A total of 947 adults, aged 40 years or older, were randomly selected in a city in Southern Brazil. Information on socioeconomic, dietary, lifestyle, and occupational background was collected by trained interviewers. Blood Mn levels (μg/L) were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). The RV for blood Mn concentrations were obtained from the upper limits of the 95% confidence intervals (CI) of the 95th per...