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Background: Environmental epigenetics plays an important role in developing a phenotype of diseases. Objective: To identify signs of phenotypic changes in children constantly exposed to high environmental levels of chemical pollutants in the city of Nizhny Tagil. Materials and methods: The study was conducted in a specialized kindergarten for children suffering from different allergic diseases in the city of Nizhny Tagil. To detect phenotypic signs of environmental exposure, we used data on clinical diagnoses, medical history, and pediatric physical examination, as well as the results of a parent survey on allergies. We then measured blood and urinary levels of some metals and total IgE as a marker of lead poisoning in children. Results: According to clinical diagnoses, food intolerance was noted in 97.7 % of the children, 91.2 % suffered from allergic dermatitis, and almost 20 % were allergic to house dust. Phenotypic manifestations of food intolerance testified to the predominance of its skin phenotype. Every third child had symptoms of psychological disorders. The questionnaire-based survey revealed a positive allergic status in 83.1 % of the parents, mainly with skin manifestations. High blood levels of lead, nickel, cobalt, and cadmium exceeding the safe level by 23.6–240 % were observed in the study population. The syndrome of chronic xenogeneic intoxication was established in 57.3 % of cases and the syndrome of sensitization to low doses of chemicals – in 41.6 % of them. Almost 25 % of the children were underweight, which was associated with their blood cadmium levels. Conclusions: Our findings confirm the few literature data on such health effects of heavy metals in children as asthma, eczema and food allergies, as well as low body weight and height. Studies of the signs of phenotypic changes in the group of children suffering from allergies and exposed to environmental hazards are most likely to indicate the adverse impact of heavy metals on the immune system, manifestations of epigenetic mechanisms forming the allergy phenotype, which can potentially lead to transgenerational inheritance.

Introduction. Studies of biomarkers of effects of susceptibility and sensitivity of the human body to exposure to environmental toxicants are a priority in the development of the hygiene science, individual predisposition to adverse effects of chemicals on DNA and the immune system being of special importance. The objective of our study was to assess immunochemical, cytogenetic changes and genetic polymorphism in children exposed to environmental hazards. Materials and methods. We examined immunochemical marker and functional metabolic changes in selected cells, indicators of the adaptive status of the body and xenogenic poisoning of children environmentally exposed to heavy metals. Gene polymorphism was determined by two detoxification genes (GSTP1 and SOD2). Poisoning was assessed by blood levels of heavy metals. Results. We revealed the presence of autoantibodies to the liver and nervous system in 100% of children. A low level of secretory IgA was observed in 27% of children. The salivary lysozyme level indicates a decrease in the protective function of local immunity by 37.9%. We established a direct relationship between the blood levels of heavy metals and genetic instability in somatic cells of the buccal epithelium. The Ile105Val polymorphism of the GSTP1 gene and the Ala16Val polymorphism of the SOD2 gene were found in 45.9% and 28.4% of children, respectively. Limitations. The paper presents the results of a survey of 3 to 6 years children with allergies attending one preschool. The absence of a control cohort prevents us from comparing our findings with those that could have been obtained for children without allergies and/or living in pollution-free areas. Conclusion. The immunochemical and cytogenetic changes, as well as the genetic polymorphism observed in children are most likely associated with adverse health effects of environmental hazards.

Introduction. Increased content of organic substances in natural waters, expanding the list of input substances to water bodies, owing to industrial and economic activities of a person, and climate changes is an urgent issue. Against this background, compounds with unknown chemical and toxic properties are likely to appear. The purpose of this study is to collect data concerning the ways for organic compounds entering water bodies and the human body, study data on interaction mechanisms of organic substances with metals, reveal the fate of known organic chelators, complexing agents as well as organometallic compound shaped by them inside the body. The literature search was carried out in Scopus, Web of Science, CyberLeninka databases. Sources of organic substances entering water bodies, properties of organic substances. There are three types of organic substances in water bodies, divided by the sources of their occurrence (inflow): terrigenous origin, shaped inside water bodies and coming from man-made sources. Organic compounds may produce soluble and insoluble compounds with metals and colloids. Mechanisms of interaction of organic substances with metals. Bonding of organic substances takes place by the type of chelation and complexation. There are factors for bonding: functional group content, the molecular mass of substances, ion radius, and competitive interaction with binding sites. Substances having binding properties include phenolic compounds, carboxylic acids, polysaccharides, and flavonoids. Considering that phenolic compounds are located in large quantities in plant and animal tissues, this group of compounds has been researched more thoroughly in terms of interactions with metals and toxicometry. Intake of organic and organometallic compounds into the body, their kinetics, metabolism and decay. Organic compounds, chelates, and complexes enter the body with drinking water, food, and drugs. They are also generated in the body, including by replacing ions. Data on biochemical and toxicological studies of currently known compounds is given