Objectif The aim of the study is to ascertain whether a time-weighted average exposure to manganese dust (manganese is used in the production of steel as a deoxidizing and desulphuring additive and as an alloying constituent) about five times lower than the current TWA in most European countries still leads to preclinical signs of poisoning. A study of dose-effect and dose-response relationships should enable a tolerable level of exposure to be evaluated.Two groups of workers, 100 exposed to manganese dust 100 controls, will be identified. Exposure will be assessed by measuring the concentrations of manganese in the air and the manganese levels in the workers' blood and urine. Effects will be studied by means of questionnaires (ECSC questionnaire on chronic bronchitis, and special questionnaires on central nervous system symptoms and on fertility), psychomotor test and biological analyses. Multivariate analysis will be used to determine the effects of age, smoking habits and manganese exposure (duration intensity) on all the variables measured. METHODS AND MEANS BY WHICH THE AIMS ARE TO BE ACHIEVEDExposure will be assessed by measuring the concentrations of manganese in the air during three shifts using personal samplers (total and respirable dust). The psychomotor test will comprise visual reaction time, short-term memory capacity, eye-hand coordination, hand steadiness; the biological analyses will comprise manganese in blood and urine, calcium in serum and the hormones LH, FSH and PL. Lung capacity and respiratory rate will be measured by classical methods. Programme(s) ECSC-MEDRES 5C - Fifth medical research programme (ECSC) "Protection of workers against risks arising from work in the coal and steel industries", 1988-1992 Thème(s) Data not available Appel à propositions Data not available Régime de financement CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinateur Université Catholique de Louvain Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse Clos Chapelle aux-Champs, 30 1200 BRUXELLES Belgique Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée
