Health Risks from High Iron and Manganese Levels in Goa Groundwater

Because of Goa’s rich history in metals and the long history of open-cast mining, the underground well water typically has iron and manganese in high levels. Even away from here in other parts of India, it’s important to be aware of the risks of water with elevated amounts of manganese mineral.

Overtime, drinking water that is too high in manganese can cause health issues, particularly for infant and babies. These are at the highest level of risk.

Health risks from high manganese levels

Whilst it is an essential trace element for our development, our body can struggle to filter out effectively. In large quantities, it is a neurotoxin. The problems stems from overexposure to it. Some of its health impacts include:

• Learning & behavioural – young children/infants can go onto have impaired IQ and have worsening memory, speech and motor control

• Worsening school performance

• Associated with hyperactivity and having an increases risk of attention deficit characteristics

The highest risk is for those under 1 years old if an infant is given powdered formula (already fortified with manganese). If the formula is mixed with tap water which has a high levels of this mineral, then the infancy ends up with a dangerous dose which their fragile systems cannot manage.

Meanwhile in adults, it can cause symptoms that are similar to that of Parkinson’s disease. We call this manganism or manganese poisoning. It differs to Parkinson disease in the way it progresses though, with early symptoms of “manganese madness” including extreme irritability, mood swings and out of character aggression.

Health risks of high iron

The risks are less severe than manganese, with excessive amount very rarely causing long term damage to our bodies. However, there are still some health issues in these large amounts (though typically discomfort) rather than systematic toxicity. This can include issues such as:

• Stomach cramping

• Nausea

• Diarrhoea

• Nutrient absorption interference (like copper or zinc)

• For those with conditions like hereditary hemochromatosis, then there are elevated risks of damage to heart, liver, heart and the pancreas

Visual signs of high iron & manganese

Now that you’re aware of the risks, it’s good idea to pay attention to the signs of high manganese and iron such as:

• Dark grey slimy stains around the drains and toilet bowls (manganese)

• Meanwhile, Iron staining shows up in orange/yellow crusts on porcelain sinks

• When brewing a tea or coffee, you should keep an eye out for an oily looking film floating to the top (manganese)

• For iron. Keep an eye out for a metallic taste and visually, it may appear a black ink colour

How do I treat high iron and manganese in my water?

There are solutions for addressing both of these. Firstly, for high iron – a popular choice is the CN8-F resin product, manufactured by ResinTech. It performs particularly well for when resin bed depth is at a minimal level. Not only this, but it’s an upgrade to standard mesh resins which usually struggle when the iron level is more than 1 to 3ppm. This fine mesh can deal with high levels of dissolved ferrous iron (up to 10ppm) – depending on the water conditions.,

Secondly, SIR-1300 resin (dependent on water quality) can be used as a type of water treatment when dealing with manganese. An important factor for consideration though is your water chemistry.

The pH should be high (close to 8.0) as a too low pH will cause it to stay locked in its dissolved state. As well as this, the resin must have a lot of oxygen in order to perform properly. Finally, ensure that your water is not overloaded with high iron. This is because iron is easier to oxidise out of the two, and it will take up the oxygen and space on the actual resin beads.

Goa’s Groundwater Quality

It’s worth noting there are regions around Goa that are worse for both iron concentration and manganese concentration levels within its water.

For example, North Goa is well known its history of mining. As such village such as Pissurlem and Kudne are really problematic towns as water is often filled with iron dust. The wells here are therefore not fit for drinking. This ecological damage is not just here though. It’s also apparent in the Sattari region in village such as Sonshi. When rainwater traverse across mined dirt near to those villages, the iron ends up getting absorbed right into the ground.

FAQ

What is Manganism?

This is neurogenerative disease that arises from overexposure of manganese. It causes symptoms similar to Parkinson’s disease.

How does iron affect my water?

High levels of iron are notorious for household staining and impair the taste of drinking water.

How does high manganese levels affect my water?

Similar to iron - it will cause water to taste metallic and also leave stains (though usually brown/black) on sinks, toilets etc.

What water treatment should I use for reducing iron in my water?

You can use specialise ion exchange resin to effectively remove these out of your water.

Is water high in iron bad for my skin?

It can be and can worsen skin conditions like eczema. This is because the iron minerals interfere with your skin’s natural moisture barrier. The end result? Dry and irritated skin.