Marco Guarneros|N. Ortiz-Romo|Mireya Alcaraz-Zubeldia|René Drucker?Colín|Robyn Hudson
Nonoccupational Environmental Exposure to Manganese is Linked to Deficits in Peripheral and Central Olfactory Function
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México|Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México|Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía|Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México|Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
manganese growing concern toxic air pollutant readily transported olfactory epithelium olfactory bulb unlike metals transported transynaptically structures deep within brain however little known regarding possible effect nonoccupational exposure manganese olfactory function using sniffin sticks test battery compared olfactory performance subjects manganese mining district living 1 km manganese processing plant nonexposed subjects living 50 km closest source exposure n 30group groups matched age sex schooling none ever worked miningrelated activities concentrations manganese hair measured biomarker exposure exposed subjects significantly higher concentrations nonexposed subjects also significantly outperformed nonexposed subjects olfactory measures threshold discrimination identification indicating adverse effects manganese exposure range olfactory functions including involving higher order cognitive processes contrasts previous findings showing adverse peripheral central effects olfactory function big city air pollution mostly consists toxicants known affect olfactory epithelium lower transynaptic transport capacity compared manganese conclude nonoccupational exposure airborne manganese associated decrements peripheral central olfactory function