Biomonitoring Data for Assessing Aflatoxins and Ochratoxin A Exposure by Italian Feedstuffs Workers

In routine measurements, the length of the analysis time and nfumber of samples analysed during a time unit are crucial parameters, which are especially important for the food analysis, particularly in the case of mycotoxin determinations. High-resolution equipment, including time-of-flight or Orbitrap analyzators, can provide stable instrumental background for high-throughput analyses. In this report, a short, 1 min MS-based multi-mycotoxin method was developed with the application of a short column as a reduced chromatographic separation, taking advantages of the multiplexing and high-resolution capability of the QExactive Orbitrap MS possessing sub-1 ppm mass accuracy. The performance of the method was evaluated regarding selectivity, LOD, LOQ, linearity, matrix effect, and recovery, and compared to a UHPLC-MS/MS method. The final multiplexing method was able to quantify 11 mycotoxins in defined ranges (aflatoxins (corn, 2.8–600 μg/kg; wheat, 1.5–350 μg/kg), deoxynivalenol (corn, 640–9600 μg/kg; wheat, 128–3500 μg/kg), fumonisins (corn, 20–1500 μg/kg; wheat, 30–3500 μg/kg), HT-2 (corn, 64–5200 μg/kg; wheat, 61–3500 μg/kg), T-2 (corn, 10–800 μg/kg; wheat, 4–250 μg/kg), ochratoxin (corn, 4.7–600 μg/kg; wheat, 1–1000 μg/kg), zearalenone (corn, 64–4800 μg/kg; wheat, 4–500 μg/kg)) within one minute in corn and wheat matrices at the MRL levels stated by the European Union.

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advantages of Multiplexing Ability of the Orbitrap Mass Analyzer in the Multi-Mycotoxin Analysis

Rakk

Kukolya

Škrbić

et al. 2023

“…The low number of urine samples collected does not enable us to draw any conclusions on the magnitude of the occupational exposure of these workers, or on the efficiency of respiratory protective masks. However, the presence of aflatoxins in half of the urine samples could be an indication of occupational exposure, given that AFB1 is rarely detected in the general population [ 22 ]. Overall, these data confirmed the need for multi-mycotoxin methods in assessing mycotoxin exposure among workers.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Absorption following oral exposure has been extensively explored in the general population [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ], while occupational exposure has only scarcely been studied. During these last two decades, studies have mainly focused on occupational exposure to the carcinogenic AFB1 [ 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ], OTA [ 9 , 10 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 ] and deoxynivalenol (DON) [ 37 ]. Only a small number of studies have reported the use of a multi-biomarker approach to assess exposure to mycotoxins among workers [ 13 , 15 , 38 , 39 , 40 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigating Multi-Mycotoxin Exposure in Occupational Settings: A Biomonitoring and Airborne Measurement Approach

Ndaw

Jargot

Gautier

et al. 2021

Investigating workplace exposure to mycotoxins is of the utmost importance in supporting the implementation of preventive measures for workers. The aim of this study was to provide tools for measuring mycotoxins in urine and airborne samples. A multi-class mycotoxin method was developed in urine for the determination of aflatoxin B1, aflatoxin M1, ochratoxin A, ochratoxin α, deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, α-zearalenol, β-zearalenol, fumonisin B1, HT2-toxin and T2-toxin. Analysis was based on liquid chromatography–high resolution mass spectrometry. Sample pre-treatments included enzymatic digestion and an online or offline sample clean-up step. The method was validated according to the European Medicines Agency guidance procedures. In order to estimate external exposure, air samples collected with a CIP 10 (Capteur Individuel de Particules 10) personal dust sampler were analyzed for the quantification of up to ten mycotoxins, including aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, fumonisin B1 and HT-2 toxin and T-2 toxin. The method was validated according to standards for workplace exposure to chemical and biological agents EN 482. Both methods, biomonitoring and airborne mycotoxin measurement, showed good analytical performances. They were successfully applied in a small pilot study to assess mycotoxin contamination in workers during cleaning of a grain elevator. We demonstrated that this approach was suitable for investigating occupational exposure to mycotoxins.

“…These limitations include a lack of laboratory infrastructure in many settings where high aflatoxin levels are encountered, seasonal variation in aflatoxin contamination of staple foods, and difficulty in estimating individual exposure in settings where families eat from the same plate or bowl of food [ 7 ]. Additionally, aflatoxin exposure in the food manufacturing or waste management industries might be due to inhalation or dermal absorption of aflatoxin contaminated dust, and this cannot be monitored through the use of traditional methods [ 8 , 9 ]. Measuring the presence of aflatoxins and aflatoxin metabolites in body fluids and tissues of exposed individuals has emerged as a reliable indicator of exposure and metabolism of aflatoxins [ 6 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of Aflatoxin Biomarkers in the Hair of Experimental Animals

Mupunga

Rensburg

Luthuli

et al. 2021

Analysis of body fluids and tissues of aflatoxin exposed individuals for the presence of aflatoxins and aflatoxin metabolites has emerged as a reliable indicator of exposure and metabolism of aflatoxins. However, current aflatoxin biomarkers are not appropriate for investigating the long-term effects of aflatoxin exposure. In this explorative study, we investigated the analysis of hair as a complementary or alternative matrix for the assessment of biomarkers of long-term aflatoxin exposure. Three groups of guinea pigs were orally dosed with 5 ugkg−1bw−1, 50 ugkg−1bw−1, and 100 ugkg−1bw−1 of AFB1. Urine and hair samples were collected on days 0, 1, 2, 3, 7, 30, 60, and 90 and analysed for AFB1 and AFM1 using UHPLC-MS/MS. AFB1 and AFM1 were detected in 75% and 13.6%, respectively, of the day 1 to day 7 urine samples. AFB1 was detected in hair samples collected from day 3 up to day 60. This is the first report to confirm the deposition of AFB1 in the hair of experimental animals. These findings indicate that hair analysis has the potential to provide an accurate long-term historical record of aflatoxin exposure with potentially important implications for the field of aflatoxin biomarkers.