Epigenetic Modifications Due to Heavy Metals Exposure in Children Living in Polluted Areas

The aim of the present article is to provide a summary of the epigenetic modifications that might occur in children exposed to heavy metals pollutants. It is known that children are more susceptible to environmental pollutants, because their detoxification enzymes are less competent, and this may lead to alterations in chromatin structure or of DNA causing, in turn, epigenetic modifications. Little is currently known about the long-term effects of these changes when occur early in childhood, nonetheless there are ethics and practical concerns that make the assessment of DNA modifications difficult to perform in large-scale.