Manganese exposure at schools

Concerns are being expressed about an ongoing U.S. EPA study aimed at identifying the risk of manganese exposure at three area schools.

On Thursday, EPA officials released the preliminary results of their study - one of at least three looking at manganese exposure in the area.

The preliminary results show manganese levels that fluctuate above and below acceptable EPA ranges at Warren Elementary School, the Ohio Valley Educational Service Center (formerly Fairview School) and Neale Elementary School in Vienna, W.Va.

Jaime Wagner, environmental scientist with the U.S. EPA in Chicago, said no conclusions should be drawn from the preliminary results. She acknowledged two samples at different locations were six to seven times above long-term exposure thresholds.

"That's why we do an average," Wagner said.

EPA expects to collect 10 to 13 samples before the study concludes. Air monitoring began Aug. 17 and is set to wrap up at the end of the month. There is a lag in reporting the data because of quality assurance procedures, Wagner said.

Dick Wittberg, executive director of the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department, said there are problems with averages and with the timing of the EPA study.

"Unfortunately, they are doing a study at a time when we know emissions (from Eramet Marietta) are at a low level, and in spite of that, emissions levels at two different sites are several times higher than they ought to be," Wittberg said.

By averaging the first four samples that were released, Wittberg said it appears area students and residents should be safe. However, he said averages mask dangers of intense short-term exposure.

"We don't know if one month of high exposure is enough to cause significant damage," he said.

Although trace amounts of manganese are needed in the human body, excessive manganese exposure is thought to have effects on the human nervous system - especially in children. Health studies have been limited, but some studies have shown dramatic mood and movement problems associated with intense short-term exposure and prolonged exposure to low-levels of the material, which is a byproduct of metal refining. Eramet Marietta is the primary source of local manganese emissions.

Wagner said EPA officials have not been in contact with Eramet, the area's major source of manganese exposure, to better understand production schedules or rates.

Eramet spokeswoman Joy Frank-Collins said Thursday that the company is only operating two of its three furnaces because of current market conditions. She said production on the two operating lines is below 100 percent.

"We are typically a three-furnace operation," she said.

Frank-Collins said the company is interested in working with EPA to get an accurate study.

"We closely follow all studies conducted on all of the materials we produce and work with at this facility," she said. "The safety of our workers and community is important."

As for the data released Thursday, Frank-Collins agreed with the EPA that no conclusions should be drawn until more information becomes available.

"I would exercise extreme caution before commenting, given we are so early into the process," she said.

Officials at area schools did not return messages seeking comment.

Warren Township resident Kerri Ludwig, 35, said her family is keeping a close eye on each of the manganese studies. She has a 7-year-old daughter who attends Warren Elementary School. A neighbor was recently invited by mail to participate in a separate manganese health study.

"It does concern me," she said. "We don't know a lot about it, and I'm willing to do whatever is necessary to improve things."

Once the full set of monitoring results have been collected, the EPA will analyze the data to determine whether there is a risk of potential long-term health effects. If so, nearby sources of pollution will be evaluated and appropriate follow-up activities will be determined, according to an EPA release.