Is IQ Dependent On What Is In Your Water?
Water is a huge component of our life; we need to drink at least 64 oz. of it every day for our health. Our bodies are made up of 55% to 75% water. We all know that we need to drink water, what we may not know is that the things in our water may actually do us more harm than good.
A team of researchers in Canada have recently completed a study showing that children exposed to high concentrations of manganese in drinking water performed worse on tests of intellectual functioning than children with lower exposures. For this study, they examined 362 Quebec children between the ages of 6 and 13, living in homes using individual or public wells. Researchers measured the level of manganese, iron, copper, lead, zinc, arsenic, magnesium, and calcium for each child’s water supply. They calculated the amount of manganese consumed from both tap water and food from information gathered on a questionnaire. Completing the study was a battery of tests assessing cognition, motor skills, and behavior. The researchers concluded that there was a significant shortfall in the IQ of children exposed to higher levels of manganese in drinking water. The average IQ of children drinking tap water in the upper 20% of manganese concentration was 6 points below those children whose water contained little or no manganese. The levels of manganese found in these different drinking water sources were well below the current guidelines. The authors also stated that the amount of manganese present in food showed no relationship to the children’s IQ levels. To read the entire article click here.
Manganese is a mineral that naturally occurs in rocks and soil and is an essential nutrient at low doses. It is also naturally occurring in many surface and ground water sources. According to the EPA, the detection frequency of manganese in the U.S. ground water is high due to the ubiquity of manganese in soil and rock, but the levels detected in ground water are generally below levels of public health concern. Manganese is also found in a variety of foods including many nuts, grains, fruits, legumes, tea, leafy vegetables, infant formulas, and some meat and fish. While manganese is essential for proper function of some enzymes and for the activation of other enzymes, adverse health effects can be caused by adequate intake or over exposure. Manganese deficiency in humans appears to be rare because manganese is present in many common foods. The greater danger is in over exposure.
According to the Connecticut Department of Health, exposure to high concentrations of manganese over the course of years has also been associated with toxicity to the nervous system, producing a syndrome that resembles Parkinsonism. This type of effect may be more likely to occur in the elderly. However, it is a particular concern for bottle-fed infants. Some baby formulas contain manganese, and if prepared with water that also contains manganese; the infant may be getting a higher dose than anyone else. In addition, younger children appear to absorb more manganese than older age groups and excrete less. This adds up to a greater risk in children and infants.
The best solution to the entire manganese question is knowledge. Knowing what is in our drinking water can bring great peace of mind. We can’t simply stop drinking water, so we must know that the water we are drinking is safe and clean. Pacific Coast Water Systems of Fullerton can help you test and identify the proper water treatment system for your home or business. Reverse Osmosis, Ion Exchange, and water softeners will all remove manganese as well as other metals from your water source. Now you can have the very best water with the very best of convenience. Peace of mind is worth it, invest in your own home water treatment system, and guarantee your child’s IQ won’t be the product of the water you are drinking.
