Levels of manganese in the urine of female farmers in non-polluted regions in Japan

Nearly 1500 urine samples were collected from female farmers in eight regions widely scattered in the islands of Japan in the winter of 1987-1988. The samples were analysed for manganese by wet ashing and flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry under strict quality control. The values observed after adjustment for a specific gravity of 1.016 were distributed log-normally with a geometric mean of 0.65 microgram/l and a geometric standard deviation of 2.47. There was no effect of aging or any effect of smoking on the urinary manganese concentration. The inter-regional difference may be present but not yet conclusive. As no sex difference was observed in a previous study, it may be possible to deduce that the value may possibly stand for the "background" level of both men and women, either smoking or non-smoking, among the general Japanese population. The observed value is discussed in comparison with values reported in the literature.