Evidence of DNA damage in humans inhabiting a volcanically active environment: A useful tool for biomonitoring

► Exposure to volcanically active environment increased DNA damage in oral epithelia. ► Humans inhabiting volcanically active sites have a 2.4-fold increase in risk of MNC. ► Confounding factors did not show any significant association with the MNC or ONA. ► Biomonitoring DNA damage is recommended for inhabitants of volcanically active sites. ► Non-eruptive active volcanism is a risk factor of carcinogenesis.