Magnesium

Additional information on environmental fate and behaviour

Administrative data

Endpoint:

additional information on environmental fate and behaviour

Type of information:

other: handbook data

Adequacy of study:

supporting study

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: handbook with reliable values

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

review article or handbook

Title:

Health effects of magnesium in water

Author:

Lenntech organization

Year:

1993

Bibliographic source:

http://www.lenntech.com/periodic/water/magnesium/magnesium-and-water.htm

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Qualifier:

no guideline followed

GLP compliance:

not specified

Type of study / information:

health effects of magnesium in water

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Magnesium

EC Number:

231-104-6

EC Name:

Magnesium

Cas Number:

7439-95-4

Molecular formula:

Mg

IUPAC Name:

magnesium

Test material form:

solid: compact

Results and discussion

Any other information on results incl. tables

The human body contains about 25 g of magnesium, of which 60% is present in the bones and 40% is present in muscles and other tissue. It is a dietary mineral for humans, one of the micro elements that are responsible for membrane function, nerve stimulant transmission, muscle contraction, protein construction and DNA replication. Magnesium is an ingredient of many enzymes. Magnesium and calcium often perform the same functions within the human body and are generally antagonistic.

There are no known cases of magnesium poisoning. At large oral doses magnesium may cause vomiting and diarrhoea. High doses of magnesium in medicine and food supplements may cause muscle slackening, nerve problems, depressions and personality changes.
As was mentioned before, it is unusual to introduce legal limits for magnesium in drinking water, because there is no scientific evidence of magnesium toxicity. In other compounds, for example asbestos, magnesium may be harmful.

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:

The human body contains about 25 g of magnesium, of which 60% is present in the bones and 40% is present in muscles and other tissue. It is a dietary mineral for humans, one of the micro elements that are responsible for membrane function, nerve stimulant transmission, muscle contraction, protein construction and DNA replication. Magnesium is an ingredient of many enzymes. Magnesium and calcium often perform the same functions within the human body and are generally antagonistic.

Executive summary:

The human body contains about 25 g of magnesium, of which 60% is present in the bones and 40% is present in muscles and other tissue. It is a dietary mineral for humans, one of the micro elements that are responsible for membrane function, nerve stimulant transmission, muscle contraction, protein construction and DNA replication. Magnesium is an ingredient of many enzymes. Magnesium and calcium often perform the same functions within the human body and are generally antagonistic.

There are no known cases of magnesium poisoning. At large oral doses magnesium may cause vomiting and diarrhoea. High doses of magnesium in medicine and food supplements may cause muscle slackening, nerve problems, depressions and personality changes.
As was mentioned before, it is unusual to introduce legal limits for magnesium in drinking water, because there is no scientific evidence of magnesium toxicity. In other compounds, for example asbestos, magnesium may be harmful.