Preliminary manganese results released

MARIETTA - The preliminary results of the first comprehensive environmental study of manganese-exposed adults in the U.S. were discussed during a public meeting Thursday evening at Marietta College.

The results showed those who live within 2.5 miles of Eramet on Ohio 7 are exposed to higher levels of manganese and they also scored worse on neuropsychological tests.

Still, the overall results do not indicate there are negative health effects from airborne and blood manganese in Marietta residents.

About 50 people attended the meeting, including Marietta residents Beth and Toby Eddy. The couple said they were a little uneasy going into the meeting because they didn't know what to expect, but they felt relieved at the end.

San Francisco State University scientist Rosemarie Bowler led the discussion, and other experts were on hand, including Harry Roels, an emeritus professor from Belgium, and Long Ngo, an assistant professor of medicine in biostatistics at Harvard Medical School.

In 2009, San Francisco State University received a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant to conduct the study in Marietta. Because Mount Vernon, Ohio, is almost demographically identical to Marietta, it was selected as the comparison city. Both cities fell in the normal ranges for overall neuropsychological and neurological tests, and many results were similar.

"The comparisons between the two towns did not show significant differences between the towns," Bowler said. "Blood levels are practically identical in both towns."

She said the study is ongoing, and the data will continue to be analyzed. One-hundred people were tested in Marietta and 91 in Mount Vernon.

"We have one more year for this study," Bowler said. "We will pursue more leads, we will do more analyses and it's possible there will be something that will be uncovered."

Another study which is examining the effects of air pollution specifically on local children is in need of participants. Erin Haynes, an environmental health researcher with the University of Cincinnati, said there are 180 participants and 400 are needed. She said children ages 7 to 9 who live in Washington County and whose mother lived in Washington County while pregnant with the child may apply.

She said the study involves a complete home assessment of the child's home, including an analysis of the dust, soil and air. She said the childrens' blood, hair, urine, teeth and nails are also being collected.

Parents interested in including their child in the study should contact research assistant Jody Alden at (740) 516-3200.