Manganese pollution and brain health near a South African smelter
South African Manganese EnvironmentaL NeuroToxic Effects Research (SMELTER)
This project follows people who live near a South African manganese smelter to learn how exposure affects thinking and movement over time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Phoenix, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11376082 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project follows more than 800 South African residents—over 700 who live near a large manganese smelter and others in a nearby reference town—to track changes in movement, thinking, and mood over several years. Researchers measure airborne manganese (PM2.5-Mn), perform motor exams using the UPDRS3, and administer cognitive and mood tests in the appropriate local languages. The team previously found worse motor and cognitive performance in the exposed town and will now check whether those problems progress over time. Repeated clinical exams and environmental measurements will be linked to individual health changes to understand exposure–response relationships.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are adults who live in Meyerton (near the manganese smelter) or the nearby reference community and are willing to have air monitoring, clinical motor exams, and cognitive testing over time.
Not a fit: People who have not lived near manganese emissions or those seeking immediate treatment for advanced neurodegenerative disease may not receive direct benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could show that reducing manganese emissions helps prevent or slow declines in movement and thinking and could guide community screening and cleanup efforts.
How similar studies have performed: Previous cross-sectional studies, including this cohort's earlier work, linked manganese air levels to poorer motor and cognitive scores, but longitudinal evidence on progression is still limited.
Where this research is happening
Phoenix, United States
- St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center — Phoenix, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Racette, Brad a — St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Racette, Brad a
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.