Chapter 16: Developmental Effects of Manganese

The impact of manganese on human development is paradoxical, as it is both an essential nutrient and a toxicant. Current evidence indicates that manganese toxicity follows an inverted U-shaped curve where both low and high biological levels are associated with negative health consequences. Such adverse effects may be most severe in children at the earliest developmental stages, owing to their immature capacity for homeostatic control and underdeveloped blood–brain barrier, particularly in terms of neurodevelopment, bone development and growth, and possibly sexual maturation. This chapter summarizes the current body of literature surrounding these developmental effects.