Manganese in Drinking Water: Health Implications and Regulatory Perspectives

By Magazine Team On Jun 11, 2025 663 0

An element that occurs naturally in soil, air, and water is manganese. Although it is necessary for many body processes, excessive exposure, particularly through drinking water, poses health risks to the general public. The health effects of manganese in drinking water, legal requirements, and noteworthy events that highlight the necessity of manganese level monitoring are all covered in this article.

Manganese: What is it?

The earth’s crust contains the mineral manganese, which frequently coexists with other minerals like iron. It supports processes like blood coagulation, nerve function, and the metabolism of fats and carbohydrates and is essential for the health of bones and tissues. Although trace amounts of manganese are essential for good health, too much of it can cause fatigue, nerve damage, and muscle soreness.

Manganese’s effects on the environment and consumer indicators in drinking water

Aquatic ecosystems can be significantly impacted by manganese, especially in areas where industrial discharges, mining runoff, and natural rock leaching are present. When water bodies contain too much manganese, it can change the color of the water and increase the formation of microbial biofilms, which lowers oxygen levels and degrades habitat. Consumers often identify manganese in drinking water by visual changes: the water may turn brown, black, or even purple; it may also give off an unpleasant metallic taste, release unpleasant odors, and leave dark stains on clothing, bathtubs, and plumbing fixtures.

Customers are warned to test their water by these sensory and visual cues, which serve as early warning indicators. If verified, these symptoms point to likely manganese concentrations above the 0.05 mg/L EPA Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level, necessitating treatment to protect the environment and public health.

Manganese’s Effects on Health in Drinking Water

Small doses of manganese are good for you, but high levels in drinking water can be harmful to your health, especially for young children and babies whose developing nervous systems are more susceptible to neurotoxic effects. According to studies, both children and adults who have high manganese levels may experience neurological problems, such as difficulties with memory, attention, and motor skills. Monitoring manganese levels in drinking water is essential because infants who drink formula made with high-manganese water may be more susceptible to behavioral and learning problems.

How Does Manganese Get into Drinking Water?

Manganese enters groundwater naturally through rocks and soil. Pollution from manganese, often due to its use as an additive in gasoline, can also contaminate drinking water through environmental release from exhaust.

Guidelines and Regulatory Standards

Guidelines for manganese levels in drinking water have been established by a number of health organizations. To safeguard vulnerable groups, such as newborns, Health Canada set a Maximum Acceptable Concentration (MAC) of 0.12 mg/L for manganese. Water discoloration and taste problems are addressed by an aesthetic objective of 0.02 mg/L. Although the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the United States has not established a maximum contaminant level, it does recommend a lifetime health advisory of 0.3 mg/L for chronic exposure, especially for infants under six months, and a Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level of 0.05 mg/L for aesthetic concerns.

Water Bottled with Manganese

Concerns have also been raised about manganese in bottled water. One notable event was the recall of almost 1.9 million bottles of Fiji Natural Artesian Water because of high levels of bacteria and manganese contamination. This incident highlighted the need for stringent quality control in the bottled water industry, despite the FDA classifying it as Class III, which indicates a low risk of health effects.

Methods for Eliminating Manganese from Water

Several treatment methods can be used to efficiently remove manganese from drinking water:

1- Air Injection Oxidation (AIO):

AIO systems use a filter medium to capture solid oxidized particles after oxidizing metallic ions in water. To remove pollutants that have been captured, these filters need to be backwashed on a regular basis. Many contemporary systems offer smartphone-controlled automatic operations.

2- Ion Exchange Filters:

These filters work similarly to water softeners in that they substitute sodium ions for unwanted metal ions. They may clog with too much metal, but they can remove trace amounts of manganese and iron. To safeguard the resin bed, a sediment filter ought to come before the ion exchange filter, and routine upkeep is crucial.

3- Desalting Membranes:

Although reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) membranes are capable of rejecting manganese ions, oxidized manganese may cause fouling problems. Their primary purpose of eliminating other dissolved constituents frequently outweighs their efficacy in removing manganese.

4- Distillation:

In this procedure, water is boiled and allowed to evaporate, leaving behind minerals such as manganese. Distillation is slow and only appropriate for point-of-use applications, despite the fact that it can eliminate almost all contaminants.

Conclusion

Although trace amounts of manganese are essential for good health, high levels in drinking water can be harmful to health, especially for young children. Manganese exposure’s neurological effects highlight how crucial it is to keep an eye on and control its levels. Incidents of contamination in municipal and bottled water sources emphasize the necessity of strict quality control and public education. Maintaining public trust in water quality and ensuring safe manganese levels in drinking water are essential.

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