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Optimization and validation of a LC-HRMS method for aflatoxins determination in urine samples

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Abstract

Mycotoxins’ exposure by inhalation and/or dermal contact can occur in different branches of industry especially where heavily dusty settings are present and the handling of dusty commodities is performed. This study aims to explore the possible contribution of the occupational exposure to aflatoxins by analysing urine samples for the presence of aflatoxins B1 and M1 and aflatoxin B1-N7-guanine adduct. The study was conducted in 2017 on two groups of volunteers, the workers group, composed by personnel employed in an Italian feed plant (n = 32), and a control group (n = 29), composed by the administrative employees of the same feed plant; a total of 120 urine samples were collected and analysed. A screening method and a quantitative method with high-resolution mass spectrometry determination were developed and fully validated. Limits of detections were 0.8 and 1.5 pg/mLurine for aflatoxin B1 and M1, respectively. No quantitative determination was possible for the adduct aflatoxin B1-N7-guanine. Aflatoxin B1 and its adduct were not detected in the analysed samples, and aflatoxin M1, instead, was found in 14 samples (12%) within the range 1.9–10.5 pg/mLurine. Only one sample showed a value above the limit of quantification (10.5 pg/mLurine). The absence of a statistical difference between the mean values for workers and the control group which were compared suggests that in this specific setting, no professional exposure occurs. Furthermore, considering the very low level of aflatoxin M1 in the collected urine samples, the contribution from the diet to the overall exposure is to be considered negligible.

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Acknowledgements

Sole responsibility lies with the author, and the authority is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein. Gabriele Moracci, Paola De Santis, Maria Cristina Barea Toscan and Giuliana Verrone (Istituto Superiore di Sanità) and Massimo Magnani (Servizio Prevenzione Sicurezza Ambienti di Lavoro) are acknowledged for their technical assistance.

Funding

This research was funded by EFSA: GP/EFSA/AFSCO/2017/05PERFORMANCE: International Conference “The Burden of Mycotoxins on animal and human health” and Research Project “Biomonitoring data as a tool for assessing aflatoxin B1 exposure of workers – BIODAF”.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Reparto di Sicurezza Chimica degli Alimenti, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161, Rome, Italy

    Francesca Debegnach, Carlo Brera, Gianmarco Mazzilli, Elisa Sonego & Barbara De Santis

  2. Dipartimento di Chimica, Sapienza Università di Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5, 00185, Rome, Italy

    Francesca Buiarelli

  3. Servizio Prevenzione Sicurezza Ambienti di Lavoro, SPSAL – AUSL, Via Giovanni Amendola, 2, 42122, Reggio Emilia, Italy

    Fulvio Ferri

  4. Servizio Epidemiologia, AUSL – IRCCS, Via Giovanni Amendola, 2, 42122, Reggio Emilia, Italy

    Paolo Giorgi Rossi & Giorgia Collini

Authors
  1. Francesca Debegnach
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  2. Carlo Brera
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  3. Gianmarco Mazzilli
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  4. Elisa Sonego
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  5. Francesca Buiarelli
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  6. Fulvio Ferri
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  7. Paolo Giorgi Rossi
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  8. Giorgia Collini
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  9. Barbara De Santis
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Correspondence to Barbara De Santis.

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The study has been approved by the Ethical Committee of Reggio Emilia Province and performed in accordance with the ethical standards laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments.

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Debegnach, F., Brera, C., Mazzilli, G. et al. Optimization and validation of a LC-HRMS method for aflatoxins determination in urine samples. Mycotoxin Res 36, 257–266 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12550-020-00389-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12550-020-00389-6

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