A biokinetic model for manganese.

The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) is updating its biokinetic models used to derive dose coefficients and assess bioassay data for intake of radionuclides. This paper reviews biokinetic data for manganese and proposes a biokinetic model for systemic manganese in adult humans. The proposed model provides a more detailed and physiologically meaningful description of the behavior of absorbed manganese in the body than the current ICRP model. The proposed model and current ICRP model yield broadly similar estimates of dose per unit activity of inhaled or ingested radio-manganese but differ substantially with regard to interpretation of bioassay data. The model is intended primarily for use in radiation protection but can also serve as a baseline model for evaluation of potentially excessive intakes of stable manganese in occupational settings.