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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Manganese: A New Emerging Contaminant in the Environment

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The environment is composed of the atmosphere, earth and water. According to the World Health Organization, more than 100,000 chemicals are released into the global ambient every year as a consequence of their production, use and disposal. The fate of a chemical substance depends on its chemical application and physical-chemical properties, in combination with the characteristics of the environment where it is released. Chemical substances or contaminants discharged into the environment may be “natural” or “manmade”. One of the most misunderstood concepts regarding contamination is the missinterpretation of term “natural”. A “natural” contaminant is one substance that can occur without human introduction. For example, trace metals, such as iron, zinc, manganese, copper, cobalt and nickel, can be considered naturally-occurring contaminants. Generally, these metals are found in the environment only in moderate amounts that do not cause health threats. However, “natural” contaminants can also have anthropogenic origins: in fact human activities often cause the release of a large amount of naturally-occurring minerals into the environment. Moreover, it is not the mere presence of a contaminant that makes it toxic, but its concentration. Paracelsus’ famous aphorism “only dose makes the difference” has laid the groundwork for the development of the modern toxicology by recognizing the importance of the dose-response relationship.