Manganese Contamination

Source: DTE

Context: A study by the Mahavir Cancer Sansthan in Patna revealed significant manganese (Mn) contamination in water as a contributing factor to rising cancer cases in Bihar’s Gangetic region.

About Manganese Water Contamination:

• What is Manganese? Manganese is a naturally occurring metal found in oxides, carbonates, and silicates. It is essential in trace amounts but toxic in higher concentrations.

• Manganese is a naturally occurring metal found in oxides, carbonates, and silicates. It is essential in trace amounts but toxic in higher concentrations.

• WHO Limits for Manganese in Water The permissible limit for manganese in drinking water is 100 µg/L, as recommended by WHO.

• The permissible limit for manganese in drinking water is 100 µg/L, as recommended by WHO.

• Reasons for Manganese in water: Geogenic Sources: Naturally occurring manganese deposits in sedimentary and igneous rocks leach into groundwater. Industrial Pollution: Discharge from mining, steel, and battery industries contaminates water sources. Agricultural Runoff: Excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides introduces manganese into the water table. Erosion and Sedimentation: Natural soil erosion and sedimentation contribute to elevated manganese levels in water.

• Geogenic Sources: Naturally occurring manganese deposits in sedimentary and igneous rocks leach into groundwater.

• Industrial Pollution: Discharge from mining, steel, and battery industries contaminates water sources.

• Agricultural Runoff: Excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides introduces manganese into the water table.

• Erosion and Sedimentation: Natural soil erosion and sedimentation contribute to elevated manganese levels in water.

• Health Impacts of Excess Manganese in Water: Neurological Disorders: Overexposure can cause weakness, clumsiness, emotional instability, and difficulty in movement. Carcinogenesis: Chronic exposure is linked to cancer, with the study indicating higher contamination levels in advanced cancer stages.

• Neurological Disorders: Overexposure can cause weakness, clumsiness, emotional instability, and difficulty in movement.

• Carcinogenesis: Chronic exposure is linked to cancer, with the study indicating higher contamination levels in advanced cancer stages.

• Regions Affected India: Elevated Mn levels found in Bihar’s Gangetic plains, West Bengal’s Murshidabad and 24 Parganas, and Tumkur, Karnataka. Global: High Mn levels reported in Nigeria, Bangladesh, China, Japan, and Greece.

• India: Elevated Mn levels found in Bihar’s Gangetic plains, West Bengal’s Murshidabad and 24 Parganas, and Tumkur, Karnataka.

• Global: High Mn levels reported in Nigeria, Bangladesh, China, Japan, and Greece.

Insta links:

• Manganese