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MANGANESE IN DRINKING WATER <br />2 <br />Background Information <br />Manganese occurs naturally in rocks and soil and <br />can be found in water, food, and air. Your body <br />needs some manganese to stay healthy. The <br />recommended daily intake for manganese <br />depends on a person's age and sex. The <br />recommended manganese intake for children <br />over eight years old and adults varies from 1,900 <br />to 2,600 µg per day. Infants should consume 600 <br />µg or less of manganese per day. <br />The level at which manganese benefits one <br />person could overlap with the level at which it is <br />harmful to another person. Adults and children <br />get enough manganese through their diet. Infants <br />get enough manganese from breast-milk, food, or <br />formula. Food often has a higher manganese level <br />than water; however, there are many types of <br />food that can actually block manganese from <br />getting into the body. Water does not have the <br />same characteristics as food, so your body can <br />more easily absorb manganese in water. <br />Manganese in Minnesota’s Water <br />Manganese occurs naturally in groundwater <br />across Minnesota. Based on an MDH study, <br />groundwater in southeastern Minnesota tends to <br />have low levels of manganese (below 50 µg/L). <br />Southwestern Minnesota tends to have higher <br />levels—some over 1,000 µg/L. There are no clear <br />patterns in the other parts of the state. <br />Although public water systems are not required to <br />test for manganese, some Minnesota community <br />public water systems test for manganese either <br />before or after treating water. Based on test <br />results and treatment practices, MDH estimates <br />about 90 percent of Minnesotans using <br />community public drinking water systems receive <br />water with levels of manganese below 100 µg/L. <br />About 3 percent of Minnesotans on community <br />public water systems receive water with levels <br />above 300 µg/L. It is important to remember <br />certain types of household water treatment units <br />may reduce manganese to safe levels. <br />What MDH is Doing <br />MDH has health-based guidance for manganese in <br />water (see Human Health-Based Water Guidance <br />Table). MDH gathered data to find patterns of <br />where manganese occurs in Minnesota’s <br />groundwater (see Initial Assessment of Manganese <br />in Minnesota Groundwater). MDH also participated <br />in an effort by the Minnesota Ground Water <br />Association to create a report about manganese <br />called Manganese in Minnesota’s Groundwaters. <br />What Other Groups are Doing <br />Researchers at the University of Minnesota <br />received funding to investigate Risks to Infants <br />from Manganese in Drinking Water. <br />Resources <br />Home Water Treatment <br />(www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/ <br />water/factsheet/hometreatment). <br />Human Health-Based Water Guidance Table <br />(www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/risk/guidance/gw/ <br />table.html). <br />Initial Assessment of Manganese in Minnesota <br />Groundwater (PDF) <br />(www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/ <br />water/docs/swp/mnreport.pdf). <br />Manganese in Minnesota’s Groundwaters (PDF) <br />(www.mgwa.org/documents/whitepapers/01_manganese <br />/Manganese_in_Minnesotas_Groundwaters.pdf). <br />Risks to Infants from Manganese in Drinking Water <br />(consortium.umn.edu/risks-infants-manganese- <br />drinking-water). <br />Search for Accredited Laboratories <br />(www.health.state.mn.us/labsearch). <br />The Wells and Increased Infant Sensitivity and <br />Exposure (WIISE) Study (PDF) <br />(www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/ <br />risk/docs/studies/wiisereport.pdf). <br />Minnesota Department of Health <br />Environmental Health Division <br />651-201-4700 <br />health.drinkingwater@state.mn.us <br />www.health.state.mn.us <br />08/06/2019R To obtain this information in a different <br />format, call: 651-201-4700. Printed on recycled paper.