Assessment of Human Mycotoxin Exposure in Hungary by Urinary Biomarker Determination and the Uncertainties of the Exposure Calculation: A Case Study

Abstract

Urinary biomarkers of mycotoxin exposure were evaluated in the case of healthy people (n = 41) and coeliac patients (n = 19) by using a multi-biomarker LC-MS/MS immunoaffinity based method capable to analyse biomarkers of nine mycotoxins, i.e., fumonisin B1 (FB1), fumonisin B2 (FB2), deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEN), ochratoxin A (OTA), Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), T-2 toxin, HT-2 toxin and Nivalenol (NIV). Urinary biomarker concentrations were used to calculate the probable daily intake (PDI) of fumonisin B1, deoxynivalenol, zearalenone and ochratoxin A and compared with their tolerable daily intake (TDI). The human urinary excretion rate values reported in the literature and the 24 h excretion rate measured in piglets were used to estimate and compare the PDI values of the four mycotoxins. The highest mean biomarker concentrations were found for DON (2.30 ng/mL for healthy people and 2.68 ng/mL for coeliac patients). Mean OTA concentration was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in healthy people compared to coeliac patients. PDI calculated with piglets excretion data exceeded the TDI values by a much smaller percentage than when they were calculated from human data, especially for FB1. The uncertainties arising from the different calculations can be well perceived on the basis of these data.

The Deoxynivalenol Challenge

“…The more robust (albeit challenging) way to study human exposure is to perform biomarker analysis on urine, stool, or blood. , The challenge with these experiments is that no adequate long-term markers of chronic DON exposure exist. This leaves measuring DON and DON metabolites in urine or stool, which reflect recent exposures over the past ∼24 h. Urine samples are also greatly influenced by hydration levels of the individuals. , Urinary exposure assessments for DON or any other mycotoxin are not useful on an individual basis as a result of their rapid excretion. These data are however very useful for assessing population exposures, which are ultimately more important .…”

“…This leaves measuring DON and DON metabolites in urine or stool, which reflect recent exposures over the past ∼24 h. Urine samples are also greatly influenced by hydration levels of the individuals. 32,33 Urinary exposure assessments for DON or any other mycotoxin are not useful on an individual basis as a result of their rapid excretion. These data are however very useful for assessing population exposures, which are ultimately more important.…”