For many years there has been exploration of manganese as a tool to kill manganese. II explored the idea of using whole blood manganese levels, RBC manganese levels, and serum levels as a start. One recent study suggested using toenail levels.
No.
Merrel Holly, D. Sci. who is a 50 plus year toxicologist shared this with me (Nov. 18, 2025):
Used with permission.
“Lab tests are only as accurate as the test itself, the collection, the Chain of Custody, the sensitivity of the equipment, the lab tech, and the data interpretation. Introduction of ICP-MS revolutionized sensitivities on certain samples, such as minerals, and we now know that the formative understanding of the role of minerals in human biochemistry was very inaccurate.
I knew that it was inaccurate >50 years ago, but was unable to prove my premise due to the sensitivities of the instrumentation.
I know that manganism is rampant and widespread, but is being suppressed because the governments are behind much of the environmental sources, so research is censored by not being funded. No peer-reviewed NIH research papers, so it doesn’t exist, yet Parkinson’s cases are wildly increasing. What tests specifically differentiate various forms of Parkinsonism? Nothing but tissue samples at autopsy, and that’s a bit late.
80 to 90% of inhaled Mn absorbs into the liver on 1st Pass and it absorbs readily into brain tissues, the remainder being excreted in hours. Whole Blood shows only a tiny fraction, nails and hair are highly inaccurate.”
International Hyperbaric Medical Foundation
Dr Merrel Holley, DSc, President
&
The TOR Institute of Antiaging, Tissue & Organ Regeneration
Dr Merrel Holley, DSc, Senior Research Scientist
Greater New Orleans, LA
985-397-4692
Final Word:
Recent Mn research reports that our past medical focus on severe occupational exposure misses vastly wider and common sources of Mn exposure. Dr. Holley seems to report much of the population has excess exposure from many possible common sources.