Global Health Research Group. Dpto Enfermería, Universidad de Cantabria, Avda. Valdecilla, s/n., 39008 Santander, Cantabria, Spain.
Dpto. de Ingenierías Química y Biomolecular, Universidad de Cantabria, Avda. Los Castros s/n, 39005 Santander, Cantabria, Spain.
Sci Total Environ. 2022 Apr 1;815:152940. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.152940. Epub 2022 Jan 8.
BACKGROUND/AIM: In the Santander Bay (Cantabria, northern Spain), a ferromanganese alloy plant is located. Our objective was to characterize the Mn personal exposure of adult healthy volunteers living in this highly Mn exposed region, and to determine its association with a poorer cognitive function.
Cross-sectional study analyzing 130 consecutive participants. Cognitive function was assessed by Stroop Color Word, Verbal Fluency tests, Trail Making Test (TMT), Digit Span (WAIS III) and Rey Osterrieth Complex Figure (ROCF) tests and crude scores were standardized according to NEURONORMA norms. Exposure to Mn was assessed in terms of source distance, by Personal Environmental Monitors (PEMs) allowing the separation of fine (PM2.5) and coarse (PM10-2.5) particles (obtaining the bioaccessible fraction by in-vitro bioaccessibility tests), and by biomarkers (blood, hair and fingernails). Age, sex, study level and number of years of residence were predefined as confounding variables and adjusted Mean Differences (MDs) were obtained.
Statistically significant lower scores (negative MDs) in all test were observed when living near the industrial emission source, after adjusting for the predefined variables. Regarding PEMs results, statistically significant lower scores in all Stroop parts were obtained in participants with higher levels of Total Mn in All fractions (PM10). For Verbal Fluency tests, negative MDs were obtained for both bioaccessible fractions. Digit Span Backward scores were lower for those with higher levels in the bioaccessible coarse fraction, and negative MDs were also observed for the ROCF Delayed part and the non-bioaccessible fine fraction. As regards to Mn in fingernails, adjusted MDs of -1.60; 95%CI (-2.57 to -0.64) and -1.45; 95%CI (-2.29 to -0.61) for Digit Span Forward and Backward parts were observed.
Our results support an association between poorer cognitive function and environmental airborne Mn exposure.
背景/目的：在西班牙北部坎塔布里亚的桑坦德湾，有一家生产铁锰合金的工厂。我们的目的是描述生活在这个高锰暴露地区的成年健康志愿者的个体锰暴露情况，并确定其与认知功能下降的相关性。
横断面研究分析了 130 名连续参与者。认知功能通过 Stroop 颜色-词测试、词语流畅性测试、连线测试（TMT）、数字广度（WAIS III）和 Rey 奥斯特里希复杂图形（ROCF）测试进行评估，并根据 NEURONORMA 标准对粗评分进行标准化。通过个人环境监测仪（PEM）评估以源距离为基础的锰暴露情况，PEM 可以分离细颗粒物（PM2.5）和粗颗粒物（PM10-2.5）（通过体外生物可及性测试获得生物可利用分数），并通过生物标志物（血液、头发和指甲）进行评估。年龄、性别、学习水平和居住年限被预设为混杂变量，并获得了调整后的平均差异（MDs）。
在调整了预设变量后，生活在工业排放源附近的参与者在所有测试中得分明显较低（负 MDs）。关于 PEMs 的结果，在所有的 Stroop 部分中，在所有分数中总锰水平较高的参与者中，得分明显较低。对于词语流畅性测试，在两个生物可利用分数中，均获得了负 MDs。数字广度的后向得分在生物可利用粗分数水平较高的人群中较低，并且在 ROCF 延迟部分和非生物可利用的细分数中也观察到了负 MDs。至于指甲中的锰，观察到数字广度前后得分的调整 MDs 分别为-1.60；95%CI（-2.57 至-0.64）和-1.45；95%CI（-2.29 至-0.61）。
我们的结果支持认知功能下降与环境空气中的锰暴露之间存在关联。
