Manganese produce a parkinsonism-like illness characterized by movement abnormalities. This condition is not responsive to typical therapies used in the treatment of PD, suggesting an alternative pathway than the typical dopaminergic loss within the substantia nigra. Manganese may accumulate in the basal ganglia, leading to the abnormal movements. A mutation of the SLC30A10 gene, a manganese efflux transporter necessary for decreasing intracellular Mn, has been linked with the development of this Parkinsonism-like disease. The Lewy bodies typical to PD are not seen in Mn-induced parkinsonism. Animal experiments have given the opportunity to examine the consequences of manganese overexposure under controlled conditions.
Manganese(II) carbonate to give water-soluble salts. Manganese carbonate decomposes with release of carbon dioxide, i.e. calcining, at 200 °C to give MnO: This method is sometimes employed in the production of manganese dioxide, which is used in dry-cell batteries and for ferrites. Manganese carbonate is widely used as an additive to plant fertilizers to cure manganese deficient crops. It is also used in health foods, in ceramics as a glaze colorant and flux, and in concrete stains. It is used in medicine as a hematinic. Manganese poisoning, also known as manganism, may be caused by long-term exposure to manganese dust or fumes.