Environmental officials concerned with heavy metals found in soil samples

Nevada environmental officials are most concerned with three heavy metals discovered in soil samples at the inactive Three Kids Mine near Henderson residences.

The metals and their health effects, according to The New York University Medical Center:

MANGANESE: Inhaled or ingested, manganese, found naturally in the Earth's crust, can cause a flu-like illness known as metal-fume fever. Those exposed often recover in a day or two.

Long-term, chronic exposure to manganese dust and fumes can cause apathy, a loss of appetite, drowsiness, headache and spasms.

"Manganese madness" may follow. The symptoms include confusion, bizarre behavior, uncontrolled emotions, hallucinations, impotence, sleep disturbances and slurred speech. Manganese miners have developed Parkinson's disease-like symptoms.

ARSENIC: A well-known poison, this steel-gray metal is found naturally in the Earth's crust in ores of copper, lead and zinc.

Studies on miners have shown that exposure to arsenic can cause abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness, headache, dizziness, memory loss, convulsions, paralysis and heart irregularities. Inhaling arsenic dust can cause breathing difficulties and cyanosis, a blue-gray skin discoloration.

Long-term exposure to arsenic and its related compounds was found to cause cancers of the lungs, liver, skin and perhaps other organs.

LEAD: This metal used to be common in pencils and paints until researchers found that exposure to it can stunt the growth of children and contribute to miscarriages and an increased risk of birth defects.

Aside from those effects, lead can cause flu-like symptoms as well as more severe problems including persistent vomiting, stupor, lethargy, delirium and convulsions. Coma and death may occur.

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