Chronic manganese exposure: The assessment of psychological symptoms among manganese mineworkers

Abstract

Manganese is an essential micronutrient for humans and animals as a cofactor are exists in enzymatic
reactions. The main target organ of manganese is central nervous system. This study have been
implemented in Iran for the first time in the assessment of the psychological symptoms among manganese
mineworkers. The mines are located in the central state of Iran. Mn-exposed (n=35) and control group
(n=35) were selected. In this study the SCL-90-R questionnaire was used to evaluate psychological
disorder. The obtained results from this study exhibits that psychological disorder include somatization,
obsessive–compulsive, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, hostility, phobic anxiety, paranoid
ideation, psychoticism in manganese mineworkers are significantly higher than workers in control group
(p-Value < 0.05). To prevention of psychological disorder in mineworkers; work-shift change
periodically, using filtered masks and ventilation tunnels and also psychological counseling are
recommended.