Manganese Health Research Program: Phase 2, Core 16

Research Core Project Number:
Research Core Project:	Water-Borne Manganese Exposure and Motor Function in Young Adults
Core Principal Investigator (CPI):	Joseph Graziano, PhDName AffiliationColumbia University Mailman School of Public Health Department of Environmental Health Sciences Contact details60 Haven Ave, B-1 New York, NY 10032 Phone: 212-305-1678 Email: jg24@columbia.edu


Key Collaborators:	Gail Wasserman, PhD Columbia University & NYS Psychiatric Institute Department of Psychiatry - Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 1051 Riverside Drive New York NY, 10032 Phone: 212-543-5296 Email: wassermg@childpsych.columbia.edu Xinhua Liu, PhD Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health Department of Biostatistics 722 W. 168th Street, 6th Floor New York, NY 10032 Phone: 212 342 1262 Email: xl26@columbia.edu

Project Objectives:

This project seeks to test the hypothesis that total manganese (Mn) exposure from drinking water and diet may be adversely related to motor function in young adults, 18-21 years of age. The field work took place in Araihazar, Bangladesh, where Mn concentrations in drinking water are variable and often elevated well above the WHO guideline level of 300 ug/L. The project sought to recruit 100 young men and 100 young women, half of whom were consuming water with < 300 ug/L Mn and half above that. Motor function was assessed using the Bruininks-Oseretsky -2 test of motor functioning, a well validated instrument. In addition, a validated dietary survey questionnaire was administered to obtain data on dietary Mn, and a validated questionnaire concerning exercise, a covariate, was administered since exercise influences motor function. Finally, blood measurements of Mn and various parameters of iron metabolism were also carried out.

Project Status:

Project started: 2008
Scheduled completion date: 12/31/08
Anticipated completion date: December 2011
Completed:

Key Research Accomplishments:

Laboratory measurements of all blood and urine parameters have been completed and are illustrated in Table 3. As expected, serum iron (Fe) and blood hemoglobin concentrations were lower in women than men. All of these blood measurements will be considered in our statistical modeling that ultimately examines the relationship between total daily Mn intake and motor function. Each of four sub-tests of the BOT-2 (fine motor control, body coordination, manual coordination, and strength & agility) will be examined independently, as will the total standardized test scores

Data entry for the BOT-2 and dietary survey have been completed, while the entry of the physical activity questionnaire is nearing completion. Upon completion of this data entry, our final regression modeling can be carried out to test our hypothesis.

Conclusions and Publications:

No conclusions have yet been reached. Statistical analyses are about to begin within days, as we are nearing the completion of data entry into a central database. Our statistician, Dr. Xinhua Liu, is poised to begin work on this once data entry is completed. We hope to be able to submit an abstract to the annual meeting of the Superfund Research Program by August 15th.

Last updated: August 16, 2011