Exposure assessment and health risk characterization of mycotoxins in lactating women from Pirassununga/SP

Author(s)

Carolina Fernanda Sengling Cebin Coppa

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Pirassununga.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Zootecnica e Engenharia de Alimentos (FZE/BT)
• Defense date: 2020-03-27

Examining board members

Carlos Augusto Fernandes de Oliveira; Carlos Humberto Corassin; Eliana Setsuko Kamimura; Gabriel Augusto Marques Rossi; Anderson de Souza Sant'Ana; Fernando Gustavo Tonin

• Advisor: Carlos Augusto Fernandes de Oliveira

Abstract

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by naturally occurring fungi in foods that can cause a wide variety of toxic effects on vertebrates, including humans. Lactating women constitute an important risk group considering not only the potential toxic effects of mycotoxins, but also the possibility of excretion of mycotoxin residues in breast milk. This study aimed to evaluate the exposure and risk characterization of lactating women (N = 74) from Pirassununga, Sao Paulo, Brazil, to aflatoxins (AFs), fumonisins (FBs), ochratoxin A (OTA) and zearalenone (ZEN) through food analysis versus consumption data and mycotoxin biomarkers in urine and breast milk. The volunteers provided samples of food stored and available at their homes from April 2018 to August 2019, totaling 184 samples. All samples were analyzed by mass spectrometry-coupled liquid chromatography (LC-MS/MS). The concentrations of AFs, OTA, ZEN and FBs exceeded their respective MPL in 11 (6%), 3 (2%), 8 (4%) and 5 (3%) samples, respectively. Twenty-eight samples (15%) were contaminated with two or three types of mycotoxins. Corn products contributed for the highest mean probable daily intakes (PDI) of AFs, ZEN and FBs (0.119 ± 0.193, 0.325 ± 0.097 and 2.936 ± 1.541 µg/kg b.w./day, respectively), while wheat-based products contributed for the highest PDI value of OTA (0.035 ± 0.028 µg/kg b.w./day). The Margin of Exposure (MoE) based on food data for AFs (3.72) showed high exposure risk (MoE < 10,000), and Hazard Quotient (HQ) obtained for OTA (24.66), ZEN (4.24) and total FBs (5.01) also indicated a non-tolerable risk (HQ > 1) for these mycotoxins through food consumption. Mean PDI values based on urinary biomarkers were 1.58, 1.09, 5.07 and 0.05 µg/kg b.w./day for AFM1, DON, OTA and ZEN, respectively. HQ > 1 was observed for OTA (316.79) and DON (1.09). The MoE value for AFM1 (1.50) based on the urinary-based PDI also indicated potential health risks. AFM1 was not detected in breast milk. However, 6.7% of samples analyzed contained FBs and OTA at mean levels of 5.0 and 1.3 ng/mL, respectively. Although a low incidence of mycotoxins was observed in breast milk, results of this trial indicate high exposure levels of lactating women to dietary mycotoxins in the studied area. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/12956-2 - Evaluation of biomarkers of exposure to mycotoxins in infants in the region of Ribeirão Preto/SP
• Grantee: Carolina Fernanda Sengling Cebin Coppa
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate