| dc.description.abstract | Abstract
Airborne mycotoxin exposure
Fungi are found everywhere in the environment, and exposure to these organisms is inevitable. Many species of fungi produce mycotoxins: secondary metabolites, toxic to higher vertebrates. There are several routes via which exposure to these mycotoxins occurs: oral, dermal and inhalation. The last route is the least studied, and therefore presents a relatively unknown health risk. This report aims to investigate this airborne exposure to mycotoxins by answering several questions.
1. What are the sources of the mycotoxins?
2. What are the concentrations of mycotoxins in the air?
3. What is the human exposure to these mycotoxin concentrations?
4. What is the dose of mycotoxins, which reaches the target organs?
5. What are the health effects of these mycotoxins?
The answers to these questions should provide the answer to the main research question: what is the risk of airborne exposure to mycotoxins?
The sources of the mycotoxins are the fungi themselves, so in essence every place that can support fungal growth can be a (potential) source for mycotoxins. However, fungi do not always produce mycotoxins, complicating the answer to this question. Most studies do not measure mycotoxins directly from the air, but rather extract mycotoxins from (settled) dust samples.
Studies providing quantitative data about airborne mycotoxin concentrations are rare; most studies describe method testing, or have performed qualitative testing. The results of these studies have to be validated by further research to gain more credibility for use in studies investigating airborne mycotoxins concentrations.
In exposure assessment most studies focus on dust samples; however, studies, which researched the possibility of mycotoxin exposure by contact with parts of the fungi (conidia) have also been performed. These studies concluded that exposure via conidia is possible. Most studies however, focus on dust as an indicator for airborne mycotoxin exposure.
Mycotoxins have very varied chemical properties, and consequently also varied health effects. Some only cause for example vomiting, while another has been labeled one of the most carcinogenic naturally occurring substances.
There are several difficulties in assessment of the health risk in airborne mycotoxins and a detailed risk assessment method is needed; the variability of properties of mycotoxins is one of these. There are large differences not only in chemical properties but also in toxicity. This should also be taken into account when performing a sound risk assessment. Although there is a general lack of concrete scientific data about most aspects of this risk assessment current studies do offer some insight. However, there is a need for more compatibility between the various studies; a more uniform approach could help to combine data and lead to a well-based risk assessment. | |
