Chronic Manganese Toxicity in Indian Mines—An Historical Account of the Contributions of Dr. T.P. Niyogi

The mining of manganese ore in India started in the year 1899, in Nagpur district of the Central Provinces. Almost six decades later, in 1957, Dr. T. P. Niyogi examined several young men involved in dry drilling of Manganese ore, who had symptoms of muscular pain, weakness, clumsy movements, asthenia, anorexia, insomnia, and gait difficulties. These patients were also emotionally disturbed and prone to falls and accidents. He concluded that these symptoms were due to chronic manganese toxicity with parkinsonian features and psychiatric manifestations which he published in 1958.([1]) This lead to the formation of an Enquiry Committee by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India which instituted corrective measures in mining of manganese in India. Very few reports of chronic toxicity due to inhalation of manganese have been reported subsequently. This paper highlights the contributions of Dr. T.P. Niyogi who was the Civil Surgeon in Chhindwara, MP during that period.