Children may be environmentally exposed to several hazards. In order to evaluate the health of children living in a tobacco-producing region, different biomarkers of exposure and effect, as well as hematological parameters, were evaluated. Biomarkers of exposure to the following xenobiotics were assessed: pesticides, nicotine, toxic elements, and organic solvents. Oxidative damage markers malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyls (PCO), vitamin C, microalbuminuria (mALB) levels, and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) activity were also evaluated. Peripheral blood samples and urine were collected from 40 children (6–12 years), at two different crop periods: in the beginning of pesticide applications (period 1) and in the leaf harvest (period 2). The Wilcoxon signed-rank test for paired data was used to evaluate the differences between both periods. Biomarkers of exposure cotinine in urine and blood chromium (Cr) levels were increased in period 1 when compared to period 2. Moreover, a significant reduced plasmatic activity of butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) was observed in period 2 in relation to period 1. Blood Cr levels were above the recommended by WHO in both evaluations. The biomarkers MDA and PCO as well as the kidney dysfunction biomarker, mALB, presented levels significantly increased in period 1. Additionally, decreased lymphocytes and increased basophils were also observed. Cotinine was positively associated with PCO, and Cr was positively associated with PCO and MDA. The increased Cr levels were associated with decreased lymphocytes and increased basophils. Our findings demonstrate that children environmentally exposed to xenobiotics in rural area may present early kidney dysfunction, hematological alterations, as well as lipid and protein damages, associated with co-exposure to different xenobiotics involved in tobacco cultivation.

The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the effect of chromium on hematological and biochemical parameters in Epaulet Grouper, Epinephelus stoliczkae of Chabahar Bay and Gulf of Oman by ecological and experimental tests. Spatial evaluation of ecological test results showed these parameters had significant difference among some sampling sites. Examination of hematological and biochemical profiles on Epaulet Grouper was performed after 0.5, 1, 7, 14, and 21 days of chromium exposure (3.6, 7.31 and 14.6 mg/L). Experimental test results of chromium induce indicated the significant decrease in MCV, MCH, neutrophils, basophils, plasma protein and significant increase in MCHC, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils and a biphasic trend in Hb, Ht, RBC, WBC, and glucose (p < 0.05). Cellular and nuclear axis, cytoplasmic volume, cell and nuclear volume, and surface area were significantly different for ecological and experimental results (p < 0.05). It was concluded that these parameters are sensitive in monitoring the toxicity of chromium concentrations.