Does Manganese Inhaled from the Shower Represent a Public Health Threat?
A new analysis based on animal studies suggests that showering in manganese-contaminated water for a decade or more could have permanent effects on the nervous system. The damage may occur even at levels of manganese considered safe by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), according to researchers from Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
“If our results are confirmed, they could have profound implications for the nation and the world,” says John Spangler, M.D., an associate professor of family medicine. “Nearly nine million people in the United States are exposed to manganese levels that our study shows may cause toxic effects.”