1. Neuropsychiatric symptoms and past manganese exposure in a ferro-alloy plant
- Author
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Bouchard, Maryse, Mergler, Donna, Baldwin, Mary, Panisset, Michel, and Roels, Harry A.
- Subjects
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NEUROPSYCHIATRY , *MANGANESE , *EMPLOYEES , *MOOD (Psychology) , *MENTAL depression , *ANXIETY , *LOGISTIC regression analysis - Abstract
Abstract: Introduction: Psychiatric manifestations have been reported in cases of manganism, and mood disorders are often observed in manganese (Mn) exposed workers. We examined neuropsychiatric symptoms among formerly Mn-exposed workers 14 years after cessation of exposure. Materials and methods: A study was conducted in 1990 among workers from a ferro- and silico-Mn plant and unexposed working men referents from the same region in South-West Quebec. At follow-up in 2004, 77 former Mn-workers and 81 referents agreed to participate and responded to a neuropsychiatric symptom checklist, the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI); scores were transformed into T-scores based on a normative population. Cumulated exposure indices (CEI) were computed for each former Mn-worker. Linear and logistic regression analyses were used. Results: Mean T-scores were significantly higher among former Mn-workers than referents on scales of Depression and Anxiety. Mean T-scores of psychological distress increased with the CEI tertiles, with significant associations for the scales Somatization, Depression, Anxiety and Hostility. Former Mn-workers in the two highest tertiles of CEI showed a higher risk for T-scores ≥63 for Hostility (OR, 7.5; 95% CI, 1.5–38.9), Depression (OR, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.1–8.4) and Anxiety (OR, 3.0; 95% CI, 1.1–8.4). Conclusion: These results suggest that past exposure to Mn may have lasting consequences on neuropsychiatric symptoms. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
- Published
- 2007
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