Considering our results and taking into account that millions of children in Mexico are living in scenarios similar to those studied in this work, the assessment of health effects in children exposed to PAHs is urgently needed; furthermore, PAHs have to be declared contaminants of concern at a national level.

In developing countries, the management of environmental toxicants is inadequate, thus, humans may be exposed to levels higher than normal levels (background levels). Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the exposure level of Mexican children to dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), lead, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [using 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) as exposure biomarker] and to assess the percentage of children exposed to these four compounds at concentrations higher than normal in each community studied. We performed random sampling in eight communities in Mexico (five communities in Chiapas State and three communities in San Luis Potosi State). DDT and DDE were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, the quantification of lead in blood was performed using atomic absorption spectrophotometry, and 1-OHP analyses were performed using HPLC with a fluorescence detector. Elevated DDT, DDE, and 1-OHP levels were found in children living in the indigenous communities of Chiapas State, while higher blood lead levels were found in two communities in San Luis Potosí. Approximately 30 % of children living in Chiapas were exposed to all four compounds at concentrations above the guidelines for each compound, whereas 48 % of children studied were exposed to all four contaminants at concentrations higher than normal in a community in San Luis Potosí State. As expected, our results showed that in hot spots, children are exposed to levels higher than normal. Therefore, child environmental health programs are urgently needed.

RESUMEN La exposición a contaminantes ambientales implica un riesgo para la salud, principalmente para la población infantil. Una estrategia de intervención puede ser un Programa de Comunicación de Riesgos (PCR). Para que un PCR sea efectivo es necesario conocer la percepción de la comunidad sobre la exposición a riesgos ambientales. El conocer la percepción de los niños es fundamental para el diseño de los PCR que serán implementados en cada comunidad. En este trabajo se utilizó el dibujo como una herramienta para conocer la percepción de los niños de una comunidad rural-indígena y de niños de una comunidad urbano-marginada. La actividad consistió en la formulación de dos preguntas, las cuales respondieron los niños por medio de la elaboración de un dibujo. Las preguntas se formularon para conocer la percepción en los escenarios dentro y fuera de la casa. Los resultados obtenidos indicaron que los niños perciben la mayoría de las problemáticas ambientales detectadas con anterioridad por nuestro grupo y se encontraron diferencias por comunidad. Además se encontró que algunos niños percibieron problemáticas que no habían sido detectadas por los investigadores.

Human exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has been considered a risk determinant for the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess expression levels of vascular‐related miRNAs, miR‐126, miR‐155, and miR‐145, in plasma from women (aged 19–81 years) exposed (n = 100) and non‐exposed (n = 20) to PAHs via biomass combustion smoke.1‐hydroxypyrene (1‐OHP) was determined in urine as a biomarker of exposure to PAHs using high‐resolution liquid chromatography. Plasma expression levels of proposed miRNAs were determined by quantitative real‐time PCR. Additionally, traditional risk factors (age, blood pressure, serum lipid profile, blood glucose, and among others) associated with CVD were evaluated. Urinary 1‐OHP concentrations and plasma expression levels of miR‐126 and miR‐155 were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in women using wood as a fuel source in their homes (indoor) compared to women from the reference group (non‐exposed to biomass smoke). Besides, multivariate linear regression analyses revealed that miR‐126[β = 0.61; 95% confidence interval (0.32–0.90)] and miR‐155 [β = 0.45; 95% confidence interval (0.13–0.84)] expression levels were significantly associated with urinary 1‐OHP concentrations after being adjusted by traditional risk factors (P < 0.05). In contrast, no significant relationship was found between miR‐145 and urinary 1‐OHP levels. Furthermore, miRNAs assessed in this investigation are associated with CVD events. Consequently, actions to reduce exposure to PAHs in the evaluated population are warranted. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 60:546–558, 2019. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The results support an association between 192R-allele of the PON1 polymorphism (Q192R) and increased serum FABP4 levels (suggested as an early biomarker of CVDs risk) in assessed Mexican women.