Serum prolactin rises in Mexican school children exposed to airborne manganese

► In the present study we studied biomarkers in children exposed environmentally to Mn. ► Children exposed to Mn showed higher Mn levels in blood and hair than controls. ► Serum prolactin, a Mn biomarker of effect was higher in exposed children than controls. ► Positive correlations were found between blood and hair Mn and prolactin. ► Linear regression evidenced hair and blood Mn as determinant variables for prolactin.