Air quality in the Mid-Ohio Valley has been a long-standing topic for debate in the area.

Recently, much of the discussion has centered around manganese emissions and Wednesday some heard preliminary research from one doctor's findings on the chemical.

Doctor Erin Haynes from the University of Cincinnati conducted a study on Mid-Ohio Valley residents last year.

Tonight she presented those preliminary findings at Washington State Community College.

Researchers say the presence of manganese isn't the problem--it's in many of the foods we eat and products we use. They say the concern comes when the chemical is inhaled and Doctor Haynes is trying to prove just how harmful it is.

Doctor Haynes says her preliminary research indicates manganese may be the culprit for many adverse health effects in the area and is using her preliminary data to apply for a federal community based large-scale research grant to study the neurological effects of manganese exposure in children.

Eramet can be sure they won't be the only ones following this study.. but for now, all researchers have to go on is some preliminary data while they wait to see if the grant will be approved to do a large-scale study to see if manganese is truly whats clogging the air.

One researcher mentioned that US EPA is required to look at residual effects in plants like Eramet every 7-8 years.

The EPA was due at Eramet in May 2007, but researchers say the EPA never came and they aren't expected to come for another year or two.