MANGANESE ACCENTUATES ADVERSE MENTAL HEALTH EFFECTS ASSOCIATED WITH ALCOHOL USE DISORDERS

Marie-Pascale Sassine*, Donna Mergler, (CINBIOSE, University of Quebec in Montreal, CP 8888, succ. Centre-Ville, Montreal, Qc., H3C 3P3, Canada), Rosemarie Bowler (Psychology Department, San Francisco State University, 94530, California, U.S.), H. Kenneth Hudnell (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, NHEERL/NTD, MD-74B, RTP, NC 27711, U.S.).

A population-based study on early neurotoxic effects of environmental exposure to manganese (Mn) enabled us to investigate the relationship between blood Mn levels (MnB) and alcohol use disorders on mental health. The co-morbidity between alcohol use disorders and the occurrence of other psychiatric or mood disorders is well documented. Furthermore, mood effects have been reported in cases of manganese poisoning and in occupational workplace studies. The objective of the present study was to examine whether Mn affects the relation between alcohol use disorders and mental health in a community-based cross-sectional study. Participants were selected using a random stratified sampling procedure. A self-administered questionnaire provided data on socio-demographics, medical history and life style. Mood was assessed with the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) and alcohol use disorders were surveyed with the behavioral screening CAGE questionnaire. From a total of 297 participants, current drinkers who had responded to all of the CAGE questions were retained: 253 persons (124 men and 129 women); MnB levels ranged from 2.5 µg/l to 15.9 µg/l. Results were categorized according to risk for alcohol use disorders and MnB level. As expected, higher risk for alcohol use disorders was associated with higher scores for neuropsychiatric symptoms; the risk for positive cases, as defined by the BSI, was twofold: Prevalence-odds ratio = 1.98[1.13-3.46]. In addition, within the group with higher risk for alcohol use disorders (n = 71), persons with higher levels of MnB (*7.5µg/L) presented the highest scores on all the primary symptom dimensions and the 3 global indices of distress profiled with the BSI. Furthermore, for those with both higher risk for alcohol use disorders and higher MnB, the risk for positive cases increased: Prevalence-odds ratio = 4.58 [1.88 ^Ö 11.12]. These findings suggest higher levels of MnB may accentuate neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with risk for alcohol use disorders.

This study was funded by the National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency. The contents do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Agency.