Community Exposure to Air Manganese and Motor and Cognitive OutcomesAbstract Number:1900 Danelle T Lobdell*, Rosemarie M Bowler, Vihra Gocheva, and Michelle A Colledge Danelle T Lobdell* U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, United States, E-mail Address: [email protected] Search for more papers by this author , Rosemarie M Bowler San Francisco State University, United States, E-mail Address: [email protected] Search for more papers by this author , Vihra Gocheva San Francisco State University, United States, E-mail Address: [email protected] Search for more papers by this author , and Michelle A Colledge Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry/NCEH/CDC, Region 5, United States, E-mail Address: [email protected] Search for more papers by this author AbstractAlthough manganese (Mn) is an essential nutrient, occupational studies have shown inhaling high levels of Mn can lead to adverse nervous system health effects. Few studies have examined the health effects of air-Mn exposure on adults in a community. We conducted a cross-sectional study in a control town (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) and 2 towns (Marietta and East Liverpool, Ohio) with elevated air-Mn due to industrial processes. Recruited participants were aged 30-75 years and resided 10 or more years within respective town. Data included neurological and neuropsychological test results. Air modeling was conducted for Marietta (range 0.03-1.61 µg/m3) and East Liverpool (0.01-6.32 µg/m3). Town differences for outcomes used ANOVA (results reported as [F-statistic; partial eta squared (p-value)]). For Marietta and East Liverpool, Spearman’s rho was used to calculate correlations between air-Mn and motor and cognitive outcomes (results reported as [rho(p-value)]). East Liverpool had poorer scores than Marietta and Mount Vernon for word reading [3.7;.03(0.27)]; motor speed dominant hand (DH)[11.5;.08 (<.001)], non-dominant hand (NDH)[7.1;.05(.001)], motor strength DH[10.5;.07(<.001)], NDH[6.3;.04(.002)]; and tactile function DH [7.1;.05(.001)]. Higher air-Mn was correlated to slower motor speed DH[ -.26(<.001)], NDH[ -.16 (.027)]; and worse tactile function scores NDH[ -.15(.04)]. For cognitive outcomes, higher air-Mn was correlated to lower scores on daily memory immediate [-.15(.04)] and delayed [-.17(.02)]; divided attention [-.15(.04)]; cognitive flexibility [-.16(.03)]; naming [-.19(.01)]; abstract reasoning [-.30(<.001)]; attention and working memory [-.19(.01)]; and immediate [-.21(.003)] and delayed [-.20(.005)] visual memory. Environmental exposures are low compared to occupational exposures and small positive findings may indicate early, clinical effects of air-Mn exposure. This abstract does not necessarily reflect EPA or ATSDR policy.