Mycotoxins Exposure of French Grain Elevator Workers: Biomonitoring and Airborne Measurements

It is now recognized that additional exposure to mycotoxins may occur through inhalation of contaminated dust at a workplace. The aim of this study was to characterize the multi-mycotoxin exposure of French grain elevator workers using biomonitoring and airborne measurements. Eighteen workers participated in the study. Personal airborne dust samples were analyzed for their mycotoxin concentrations. Workers provided multiple urine samples including pre-shift, post-shift and first morning urine samples or 24 h urine samples. Mycotoxin urinary biomarkers (aflatoxin B1, aflatoxin M1, ochratoxin A, ochratoxin alpha, deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, alpha-zearalenol, beta-zearalenol, fumonisin B1, HT-2 toxin and T-2 toxin) were measured using a liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry method. Grain elevator workers were highly exposed to organic airborne dust (median 4.92 mg.m(-3)). DON, ZEN and FB1 were frequent contaminants in 54, 76 and 72% of air samples, respectively. The mycotoxin biomarkers quantified were DON (98%), ZEN (99%), alpha-ZEL (52%), beta-ZEL (33%), OTA (76%), T-2 (4%) and HT-2 (4%). DON elimination profiles showed highest concentrations in samples collected after the end of the work shift and the urinary DON concentrations were significantly higher in post-shift than in pre-shift-samples (9.9 and 22.1 mu g/L, respectively). ZEN and its metabolites concentrations did not vary according to the sampling time. However, the levels of alpha-/beta-ZEL were consistent with an additional occupational exposure. These data provide valuable information on grain worker exposure to mycotoxins. They also highlight the usefulness of multi-mycotoxin methods in assessing external and internal exposures, which shed light on the extent and pathways of exposure occurring in occupational settings.

Automated summary

The study found that grain elevator workers are highly exposed to organic airborne dust containing multiple mycotoxins. Urinary biomarkers of mycotoxins showed significant concentrations post-shift, especially for DON. The data suggest the importance of multi-mycotoxin methods in evaluating occupational exposure to mycotoxins.