Manganese Contamination Causing Cancer | 16 Dec 2024

A recent study links manganese (Mn) contamination in groundwater to rising cancer cases in Bihar’s Gangetic plains. Elevated Mn levels were observed in blood samples (average: 199 µg/L; highest: 6,022 µg/L in a liver cancer patient) and household hand pump water.

The study examined 1,146 cancer patients from Bihar, with carcinoma being most common (84.8%).
- Household water samples were tested for manganese contamination using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer.

Manganese:

It is the fifth-most abundant metal on Earth, exists naturally in oxides, carbonates, and silicates.
It is vital in trace amounts for maintaining body homeostasis, but toxic in excess.
WHO-recommended limit for manganese in drinking water is 400 µg/L.

Sources of Contamination:

Major sources include geogenic deposits (from sedimentary/igneous rocks) and anthropogenic factors like industrial pollution. Groundwater is a primary medium of exposure.

Health Impact:

Chronic exposure to high levels of manganese leads to toxicity, causing symptoms like weakness, clumsiness, emotional instability, impaired movement and cancer in advanced stages.

Regions Affected:

India: Bihar’s Gangetic plains, West Bengal (Murshidabad, 24 Parganas), Karnataka (Tumkur).
Global: Reported in Nigeria, Bangladesh, China, Japan, and Greece.