Ochratoxin a levels in human milk and related food samples: An exposure assessment

Abstract

Ochratoxin A (OA) is a mycotoxin detected in a variety of food and feeds mostly from countries with temperate or continental climate, because the fungi that produce it, mainly Aspergillus ochraceus, Penicillium verrucosum, and Penicillium viridicatum, can grow under a great variety of climate conditions. The aim of this article was, firstly, to confirm the occurrence of OA in human milk in Italy. Then, a preliminary calculation of OA intake via human milk was made, from ingested food. For this investigation, food and milk samples were collected, continuously for a week, from 4 lactating mothers. The obtained results revealed a significant exposure of sucklings and mothers to OA levels higher than the tolerable daily intake as estimated from animal models. On the basis of these data, a major effort in planning surveillance and research programs to control OA contamination in food, feed, and biological fluids should be pursued.

Natural occurrence of mycotoxins in cereals and spices commercialized in Morocco

“…The obtained data confirm that cereals, spices and derived products from Mediterranean countries could be affected by mycotoxin contamination due to the climatic conditions, especially humidity and temperature of the region, in agreement with previous surveys held among others by Maaroufi et al (1995), Miraglia et al (1995) and Beretta et al (2002).…”

Determination of ochratoxin A in foods: state-of-the-art and analytical challenges

“…OTA has been found in human blood samples from several Eastern European countries [24,25,26,27] and from Canada [28], Japan [29], Italy [30] Scandinavian countries [31], and Morocco [32]. Human milk contamination has also received some attention [33,34,35,36]. Recently the German Federal Ministry for Health performed a study, over 2.5 years, to determine the exposure of humans to OTA, and the levels of contamination of foods [37].…”

Immobilization of mycotoxins on modified nanodiamond substrates

“…16 Consequently, OTA is found in crops worldwide, though it is most common in Northern Africa, North America and Europe. 17,18 In fact, evidence of OTA in Europeans' blood and breast milk was found to be widespread, 19,20 with exposure primarily gained though ingestion of grains (58% of the intake), wine (21%), grape juice (7%), coffee (5%) and pork (3%). 21 Unlike AfB1, OTA accumulates in tissue and has been associated with mutagenic, nephrotoxic, nephrocarcinogenic, teratogenic 22 and immunosuppressive properties that may lead to the development of certain diseases, such as balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN), urinary tract tumors and possibly testicular cancer.…”