Summary
Homovanillic acid, an end product of dopamine catabolism, and manganese (Mn) were measured in the urine of 68 male workers exposed to Mn-containing dust in a dry alkaline battery plant or an Mn oxide and salt producing plant, and in 35 control male subjects. The geometric mean of the airborne concentration of inhalable (total) dust amounted to 0.95 and 1.37 mg/m3 in the dry alkaline battery plant and the Mn oxide and salt producing plant, respectively. In the latter, a higher prevalence of increased values of urinary homovanillic acid concentration was found. In the total population, there was a low but statistically significant positive correlation between the concentration of homovanillic acid and Mn in urine (r = 0.20, P = 0.04) but there was no significant correlation between the level of homovanillic acid in urine and Mn in airborne dust or duration of exposure. This observation might be compatible with the stimulation of dopamine turnover in the brain, which has been observed in the early phase of Mn intoxication in animals. However, the large variability in urinary homovanillic acid excretion in control subjects precludes the use of this biological indicator to detect early interference of Mn with the dopaminergic system.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
ACGIH (American Conference of Govermental Industrial Hygienists) (1992–1993) Threshold limit values for chemical substances and physical agents and biological exposure indices. Cincinnati, Ohio
Autissier N, Rochette L, Dumas P, Beley A, Loireau A, Bralet J (1982) Dopamine and norepinephrine turnover in various regions of the rat brain after chronic manganese chloride administration. Toxicology 24:175–182
Bird ED, Anton AH, Bullock B (1984) The effect of manganese inhalation on basal ganglia dopamine concentrations in rhesus monkey. Neurotoxicology 5:59–66
Bonilla E (1980) l-Tyrosine hydroxylase activity in the rat brain after chronic oral administration of manganese chloride. Neurobiol Toxicol 2:37–41
Bonilla E, Diez-Ewald M (1974) Effect of l-dopa on brain concentration of dopamine and homovanillic acid in rats after chronic manganese chloride administration. J Neurochem 22:297–299
Buchet JP, Lauwerys R, Roels H (1976). Determination of manganese in blood and in urine by flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Clin Chim Acta 73:481–486
Chandra SW, Shukla GS (1981) Effect of manganese on synthesis of brain catecholamines in growing rats. Acta Pharmacol Toxicol 48:349–354
Eriksson H, Mägiste K, Plantin LO, Fonnum F, Hedström KG, Theodorsson Norheim E, Kristensson K, Stälberg E, Heilbronn E (1987) Effects of manganese oxide on monkeys as revealed by a combined neurochemical, histological and neurophysiological evaluation. Arch Toxicol 61:46–52
Eriksson H, Tedroff J, Thuomas KA, Aquilonius SM, Hartvig P, Fasth KJ, Bjurling P, Langström B, Hedstrom KG, Heilbronn E (1992) Manganese induced brain lesions in Macaca fascicularis as revealed by positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Arch Toxicol 66:403–407
Henry RJ (1965) Clinical chemistry: principles and technics, 3rd edn. Harper and Row, New York
IPCS (International Programme on Chemical Safety) (1981) Environmental Health Criteria 17: Manganese, Geneva
Knight JA, Haymond RE (1977) Improved colorimetry of urinary 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (homovanillic acid). Clin Chem 23:2007–2010
Mustafa SJ, Chandra SV (1971) Levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine, dopamine and norepinephine in whole brain of rabbits in chronic manganese toxicity. J Neurochem 18:931–933
Roels H, Lauwerys R, Buchet JP, Genet P, Sarhan MJ, Hanotiau I (1987) Epidemiological survey among workers exposed to manganese: effects on lung, central nervous system and some biological indices. Am J Ind Med 11:307–327
Roels H, Ghyselen P, Buchet JP, Ceulemans E, Lauwerys R (1992) Assessment of the permissible exposure level to manganese in workers exposed to manganese dioxide dust. Br J Ind Med 49:25–34
Shukla GS, Chandra SV (1981) Striatal dopamine turnover and l-dopa treatment after short-term exposure to manganese. Arch Toxicol 47:191–196
Siqueira MEPB, Moraes ECF (1989) Homovanillic acid (HVA) and manganese in urine or workers exposed in a ferromanganese alloy plant. Med Lav 80:224–228
Wennberg A, Iregren A, Struwe G, Cizinsky G, Hagman M, Johansson L (1991) Manganese exposure in steel smelters a health hazard to the nervous system. Scand J Work Environ Health 17:225–262
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Buchet, J.P., Magos, C., Roels, H. et al. Urinary excretion of homovanillic acid in workers exposed to manganese. Int. Arch Occup Environ Heath 65, 131–133 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00405732
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00405732