Critical windows of susceptibility in the association between manganese and neurocognition in Italian adolescents living near ferro-manganese industry.

Introduction: Understanding the neurodevelopmental effects of manganese (Mn) is complicated due to its essentiality for growth and development. While evidence exists for the harmful effects of excess Mn, pediatric epidemiologic studies have observed inconsistent associations between Mn and child cognition.

Objective: We sought to estimate prospective associations between Mn measured in three different early-life time windows with adolescent cognition using deciduous teeth biomarkers.

The effects of the exposure to neurotoxic elements on Italian schoolchildren behavior.

Neurodevelopmental disorders are constantly increasing on a global scale. Some elements like heavy metals are known to be neurotoxic. In this cross-sectional study we assessed the neurobehavioral effect of the exposure to trace elements including lead, mercury, cadmium, manganese, arsenic and selenium and their interactions among 299 schoolchildren residing in the heavily polluted Taranto area in Italy.

Associations of a Metal Mixture Measured in Multiple Biomarkers with IQ: Evidence from Italian Adolescents Living near Ferroalloy Industry.

Background: Research on the health effects of chemical mixtures has focused mainly on early life rather than adolescence, a potentially important developmental life stage.

Objectives: We examined associations of a metal mixture with general cognition in a cross-sectional study of adolescents residing near ferromanganese industry, a source of airborne metals emissions.

Methods: We measured manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), and chromium (Cr) in hair, blood, urine, nails, and saliva from 635 Italian adolescents 10-14 years of age.

Neurocognitive impact of metal exposure and social stressors among schoolchildren in Taranto, Italy.

Background: Metal exposure is a public health hazard due to neurocognitive effects starting in early life. Poor socio-economic status, adverse home and family environment can enhance the neurodevelopmental toxicity due to chemical exposure. Disadvantaged socio-economic conditions are generally higher in environmentally impacted areas although the combined effect of these two factors has not been sufficiently studied.

Metabolic Outcomes in Southern Italian Preadolescents Residing Near an Industrial Complex: The Role of Residential Location and Socioeconomic Status.

Evidence suggests that environmental exposures and socioeconomic factors may interact to produce metabolic changes in children. We assessed the influence of residential location and socioeconomic status (SES) on pediatric body mass index (BMI) Z-score and fasting blood glucose (FBG) concentration. Participants included 214 children aged 6-11 years who live near a large industrial complex in Taranto, Italy.

Polymorphisms in Manganese Transporters 0 and Are Associated With Children's Neurodevelopment by Influencing Manganese Homeostasis.

Manganese (Mn) is an essential element but at excessive levels, it is neurotoxic. Even a moderate increase in Mn has been suggested to interfere with neurodevelopment in children. Genetics influencing Mn concentrations and toxicity is unclear.

Manganese in teeth and neurobehavior: Sex-specific windows of susceptibility.

Background: Manganese (Mn) is an essential element required for growth and development, but higher body burdens have been associated with neurobehavioral decrements in children.

Objectives: We examined whether prenatal or postnatal Mn measured in deciduous teeth was associated with scores on a test of visuospatial learning and memory.

Methods: Deciduous teeth were collected from 142 participants (ages 10-14years) residing near varied ferro‑manganese industry in Italy.

Manganese and Developmental Neurotoxicity.

Manganese (Mn) is an essential metal that plays a fundamental role for brain development and functioning. Environmental exposure to Mn may lead to accumulation in the basal ganglia and development of Parkinson-like disorders. The most recent research is focusing on early-life overexposure to Mn and the potential vulnerability of younger individuals to Mn toxicity also in regard to cognitive and executive functions through the involvement of the frontal cortex.

Effects of Manganese Exposure on Olfactory Functions in Teenagers: A Pilot Study.

Long-term exposure to environmental manganese (Mn) affects not only attention and neuromotor functions but also olfactory functions of a pre-adolescent local population who have spent their whole life span in contaminated areas. In order to investigate the effect of such exposure at the level of the central nervous system we set up a pilot fMRI experiment pointing at differences of brain activities between a non-exposed population (nine subjects) and an exposed one (three subjects). We also measured the volume of the olfactory bulb as well as the identification of standard olfactory stimuli.

Association between personal exposure to ambient metals and respiratory disease in Italian adolescents: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Release of ambient metals during ferroalloy production may be an important source of environmental exposure for nearby communities and exposure to these metals has been linked to adverse respiratory outcomes. We sought to characterize the association between personal air levels of metals and respiratory health in Italian adolescents living in communities with historic and current ferroalloy activity.

Methods: As part of a study in the industrial province of Brescia, Italy, 410 adolescents aged 11-14 years were recruited.

Neurofunctional dopaminergic impairment in elderly after lifetime exposure to manganese.

Background: Manganese (Mn) is an essential element that can become neurotoxic through various exposure windows over the lifespan. While there is clear evidence of Mn neurotoxicity in pediatric and adult occupational populations, little is known about effects in the elderly who may exhibit enhanced susceptibilities due to compromised physiology compared to younger adults. In the province of Brescia, Italy, the Valcamonica area has been the site of three ferroalloy plants operating from 1902 to 2001.

Manganese exposure: cognitive, motor and behavioral effects on children: a review of recent findings.

Purpose Of Review: Manganese (Mn) is an essential element, but can be neurotoxic when exceeding the homeostatic range. We reviewed the most recent human studies (from January 2011 to July 2012) regarding the association between Mn exposure and cognitive, motor and behavioral effects on children.

Recent Findings: A total of 10 articles were located; data were collected from five different countries.

The neurobehavioral impact of manganese: results and challenges obtained by a meta-analysis of individual participant data.

Results from a meta-analysis of aggregated data provoked a new analysis using individual data on the neuropsychological performance of occupationally exposed workers. Data from eight studies examining 579 exposed and 433 reference participants were included, 28 performance variables analyzed. The performance scores were adjusted for well-known individual-level covariates; the influence of possible, but unknown study-level covariates was attenuated by means of a z-normalization.

European approaches to work-related stress: a critical review on risk evaluation.

In recent years, various international organizations have raised awareness regarding psychosocial risks and work-related stress. European stakeholders have also taken action on these issues by producing important documents, such as position papers and government regulations, which are reviewed in this article. In particular, 4 European models that have been developed for the assessment and management of work-related stress are considered here.

Inverse association of intellectual function with very low blood lead but not with manganese exposure in Italian adolescents.

Background: Pediatric lead (Pb) exposure impacts cognitive function and behavior and co-exposure to manganese (Mn) may enhance neurotoxicity.

Objectives: To assess cognitive and behavioral function in adolescents with environmental exposure to Pb and Mn.

Methods: In this cross sectional study, cognitive function and behavior were examined in healthy adolescents with environmental exposure to metals.

Olfactory functions at the intersection between environmental exposure to manganese and Parkinsonism.

The olfactory function can be affected by occupational and environmental exposure to various neurotoxicants that can be transported through the olfactory pathway. Olfactory impairment is a highly recurrent non-motor dysfunction in Parkinson's disease and is considered an early predictive sign of neurodegeneration. Changes in olfactory perception may be caused by a dopaminergic dysregulation, possibly related to changes at the level of dopamine receptors.

Tremor, olfactory and motor changes in Italian adolescents exposed to historical ferro-manganese emission.

Background And Objective: Increased prevalence of Parkinsonism was observed in Valcamonica, Italy, a region impacted by ferroalloy plants emissions containing manganese and other metals for a century until 2001. The aim of this study was to assess neurobehavioral functions in adolescents from the impacted region and the reference area of Garda Lake.

Methods: Adolescents age 11-14 years were recruited through the school system for neuro-behavioral testing.

ATP13A2 (PARK9) polymorphisms influence the neurotoxic effects of manganese.

Introduction: A higher prevalence of individuals affected by Parkinsonism was found in Valcamonica, Italy. This may be related to ferro-alloy smelters in the area, releasing manganese (Mn) in the air, soil and water for about a century. There exists individual susceptibility for Mn neurotoxicity.

[Integration of subjective and objective methods for stress related risks evaluation in the health care sector].

One of the most relevant aspects in the evaluation of occupational stress is concerned with the survey methodology. Several studies adopted subjective and objective methods of evaluation and the debate about the benefits and limitations of both approaches has continued for several years (Frese et al. 1988, Hurrell et al.

An integrated model for the assessment of stress-related risk factors in health care professionals.

To assess the risk from exposure to occupational stress and burnout in health care workers (HCW), a cross-sectional study was planned to compare objective data that can represent potential job stressors in hospital wards and subjective symptoms reported by the workers. Medical doctors, nurses and ancillary workers of the Internal Medicine Wards of a large public hospital in Northern Italy participated in the study. Three subjective questionnaires were administered: the Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI).

Neuropsychological testing for the assessment of manganese neurotoxicity: a review and a proposal.

Background: Manganese exposure can cause neurobehavioral and neurological signs and symptoms. A review of the literature was carried out in order to identify the most sensitive and effective methods to assess these outcomes.

Methods: Studies on manganese exposure performed with neuropsychological tests were reviewed using Medline.