a b s t r a c tThe aim of the present work was to evaluate the occurrence of trichothecenes toxins, deoxynivalenol (DON) and nivalenol (NIV) in samples of corn-based foods (breakfast cereals and snacks) consumed by the Spanish population. A total of 175 commercially available samples were randomly collected during 2005. Trichothecenes were determined by a gas chromatography-electron capture detector. The estimated limit of quantification was 25.4 mg/kg for DON and 15.9 mg/kg for NIV. DON was detected in 22 of the 55 samples of breakfast cereals, in 13 of the 57 samples of baked corn snacks and in 12 of the 63 samples of fried corn snacks. NIV was detected in 6 samples of breakfast cereals and 1 sample of snacks. The median concentrations of DON and NIV found in all samples were 53.9 and 60.2 mg/kg, respectively. The influence of different factors, such as the presence of additional ingredients and the type of commercial brand, on the toxin incidence and content levels were also studied. The values of both mycotoxin intake found in this study are lower than the proposed tolerable daily intake for the respective toxin (1 and 0.7 mg/kg bw/day for DON and NIV, respectively).

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Simvastatin (SIM), a hypocholesterolaemic compound, is among the most prescribed pharmaceuticals for cardiovascular disease prevention worldwide. Several studies have shown that acute exposure to SIM is able to produce multiple adverse effects in aquatic organisms. However, uncertainties still remain regarding the chronic effects of SIM in aquatic ecosystems. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of SIM in the model freshwater teleost zebrafish (Danio rerio) following a chronic exposure (90 days) to environmentally relevant concentrations ranging from 8 ng/L to 1000 ng/L. This study used a multi-parametric approach integrating distinct ecological-relevant endpoints, i.e. survival, growth, reproduction and embryonic development, with biochemical markers (cholesterol and triglycerides). Furthermore, Real Time PCR was used to analyse the transcription levels of key genes involved in the mevalonate pathway (hmgcra, cyp51, and dhcr7). Globally, SIM induced several non-monotonic dose-responses; embryonic development, biochemical and molecular markers, were significantly impacted in the low-intermediate concentrations, 40 ng/L and 200 ng/L, whereas no effects were recorded for the highest tested SIM levels (1000 ng/L). Taken together, these findings expand our understanding of statins effects in teleost’s, demonstrating significant impacts at environmentally relevant concentrations. The findings highlight the importance of addressing the effects of chemicals under chronic low-level concentrations.Graphical abstractHighlightsSeveral uncertainties exist regarding simvastatin mode of action in non-target organismsThis work integrates D. rerio multi-level responses after long-term exposure to simvastatinSimvastatin impacted cholesterol/triglycerides levels and transcript levels of genes related to mevalonate pathway.Parental exposure to simvastatin induced offspring embryonic malformations.Embryonic abnormalities, biochemical and molecular data did follow a non-monotonic curve.

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