On September 25-28 2016, the Division of Occupation and Environmental Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai will host MANGANESE2016, an international conference on the neurotoxicity and prevention of adverse manganese health effects.
Manganese is a metal used in the production of steel and other metal manufacturing. Industrial use of manganese sometimes releases high concentrations of it in the air via dust or fumes, making workers in these industries and residents of these areas especially susceptible to manganese-related health conditions.
Exposure to manganese can result in the following health effects:
- Irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, which can develop into more serious conditions.
- Increased risk of pneumonia and other respiratory diseases.
- Long lasting or permanent neurobehavioral and neuropsychological problems, including changes in attention, memory, mood, and fine motor control.
- Increased risk of Parkinson’s disease-like symptoms that can have a younger age of onset than usual Parkinson’s disease.
The overall objective of this conference is to bring together experts from academia, governmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, industry, and labor organizations from around the world. The conference will yield international state-of-the-science discussion of what is known, identify information gaps, and help define future directions for research to advance our fundamental knowledge of the causes, mechanisms, diagnosis, related new technologies, treatment and prevention of Manganese (Mn)-induced or exacerbated diseases and disorders in children, adults, and the elderly.
Already, there are more than 100 scientists and young investigators registered from 16 countries, including Belgium, Brazil, China, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Mexico, Mongolia, Norway, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, UK, and of course the United States. Highlights includes a mentoring session for students and postdoctoral trainees, plenary sessions on standards, community and workplace exposures, children’s health, animal models, genetic and mechanistic influences, and imaging and biomarkers. The program will conclude with a special session focusing on meeting outcomes, next steps, and research needs.
MANGANESE2016 will take place September 25-28 at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. To learn more or to register for the conference, click here.
The Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, a part of the Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, is committed to preventing and treating occupational and environmental injury through clinical services, education, and research. The Division encompasses the Selikoff Centers for Occupational Health, the clinical core of the Division designated by the CDC/NIOSH as a World Trade Center Health Program Clinical Center of Excellence and the first Total Worker health Clinical Center of Excellence in the nation.