Dietary intake of some important mycotoxins by the Swedish population

Abstract

To estimate the intake of some mycotoxins from food in Sweden, approximately 600 samples were collected and analysed for aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, patulin and trichothecenes. Intakes were calculated for average and high consumers among adults and children and compared with the tolerable daily intake (TDI) of the respective toxin. Mycotoxin levels in the food samples were generally below the European/national maximum limits. However, high levels of aflatoxins were found in some samples of Brazil nuts and pistachios. The intake of ochratoxin A, patulin and trichothecenes was found to be below the temporary, TDI values (tTDI) proposed for these toxins by international expert groups, although the intake of trichothecenes (expressed as T-2 toxin equivalents) in children with a high consumption of cereals was close to the tTDI for T-2 toxin. Since there is to date no established numerical tTDI for aflatoxins, such a value was estimated for use within the project. The calculated intake of aflatoxins in high consumers exceeded this tTDI by a factor of two. In conclusion, the exposure to mycotoxins in Sweden did not generally, give rise to any major health concerns in the present study. However, the high levels of aflatoxins in certain commodities emphasize the need for preventive measures and improved control of toxin levels in these food items. Furthermore, the need for regulatory levels for trichothecenes in cereal products should be evaluated.

Aflatoxin levels in dried figs, nuts and paprika for export from Turkey

“…Only the samples containing both toxins were above the maximum tolerable limits of the EU. Thuvander et al (2001) reported that twenty-two of seventy-four peanut products were contaminated with only aflatoxin B 1 . Schroeder & Boller (1973) screened peanuts for aflatoxin-producing fungi and found that the samples were widely contaminated with A. flavus and that highly toxigenic strains (96%) predominated in the A. flavus population.…”

“…Abdulkadar et al (2004) tested six different pistachios sold in Qatar and found that three of them were contaminated with aflatoxins in the range of 0.23-81.64 lg kg )1 . Although seven of twenty-one pistachio and twenty-two of seventy-four peanut samples analysed in Sweden contained aflatoxins, only two of the pistachio samples containing very high levels (1900-2200 lg kg )1 ) and four of the peanut samples contained 15-18 lg kg )1 , exceeded the EU limits (Thuvander et al, 2001). According to an analysis report from Iran, pistachios also exhibit the aflatoxin problem (Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education, 2001).…”

Shared occupational risks for transitional cell cancer of the bladder and renal pelvis among men and women in Sweden

“…Certain mycotoxins, like ochratoxin A, are nephrotoxic and cause renal cell cancer in animal models [Pfohl-Leszkowicz and Manderville, 2007]. Exposure to mycotoxins is known to occur in the food processing, meat, and pulp grinding industries [Thuvander et al, 2001;Prazmo et al, 2003]. One might hypothesize that mycotoxin exposure is related to the commonly elevated risk of renal pelvis cancer in these occupational groups, although this is not known.…”

Occurrence of Aflatoxins in Pistachio Nuts in Esfahan Province of Iran

“…According to a report from Mexico, 2.2% of pistachio nut samples analyzed contained a level of AF higher than 20 ng/g (JECFA 1998). In Sweden, 9.5% pistachio nut samples contained AFB1 higher than 2 ng/g (Thuvander et al. 2001).…”

“…According to a report from Mexico, 2.2% of pistachio nut samples analyzed contained a level of AF higher than 20 ng/g (JECFA 1998). In Sweden, 9.5% pistachio nut samples contained AFB1 higher than 2 ng/g (Thuvander et al 2001). According to the report of Japanese Ministry of Health, among pistachio nut samples analyzed during 1972-1989, only 2% of sample contained AFB1 higher than 10 ng/g (JECFA 1998).…”