Iron and manganese in drinking water: concerns and probable problems

Iron and Manganese are natural chemical compounds in drinking water supplies that they have not any hazard for public if the recommended concentration by world health organization is considered. High amount of these elements can lead to Fe and Mn bacteria reproduction; taste and odor change, red and grown spots on the washing device, and clogged water supply systems. This study aimed to survey the health risks caused by iron and manganese in drinking water supplies.
In this systematic review article, we used the key words of Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn) in environment, water supplies and their adverse affects the web site of Pub Med, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Scopus and environmental reference books in the period of 1975 to 2016.
Findings: Our finding showed that there was not any important hazard of drinking water containing Fe and Mn. These elements can increase the risk of pathogenic organisms because most of microorganisms need them for their growth.
It is necessary to monitor and control the Fe and Mn concentration in drinking water resources according to standard for increasing mental health and decreasing public discontent. Because, there is a risk of using unsafe water sources and suffering from water-related diseases.