Hidden hazards: a literature review on occupational exposure to fungi and mycotoxins in the coffee industry

Oliveira, Filipe da Silva; Andrade, Ednilton Tavares de; Viegas, Carla; Souza, Jéssica Raquel; Rabelo, Giovanni Francisco; Viegas, Susana

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.21/21925

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Authors

Oliveira, Filipe da Silva

Andrade, Ednilton Tavares de

Viegas, Carla

Souza, Jéssica Raquel

Rabelo, Giovanni Francisco

Viegas, Susana

Abstract(s)

Several studies have reported the incidence of fungi and mycotoxins in coffee beans; however, there are few reports related to occupational exposure to these agents at coffee dry milling industries. This review aimed to identify and analyze studies assessing occupational exposure to fungi and mycotoxins in coffee industries. Therefore, a systematic literature search was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology and focusing on the assessment of occupational exposure to fungi and mycotoxins in the coffee industry. In these papers, different environmental matrices were considered in evaluating occupational exposure, but the most commonly used matrix was airborne dust (four of the five studies). Airborne fungi were sampled using active (four of the five studies) and passive sampling. Only the most recent of the studies (2022) identified microorganisms by their genera and species, and only two groups of mycotoxins were analyzed in the studies considered, namely, Ochratoxin A and Aflatoxins. None of the studies reported data on both fungi and mycotoxins. The fungal genera identified in these occupational environments included Cladosporium, Paecilomyces, Aspergillus, Penicillium, and other genera. Among the mycotoxins, only aflatoxins and ochratoxin A were investigated. Occupational exposure to these biological agents may lead to several health effects. Fungal spores and fragments can cause respiratory diseases such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, bronchitis, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Additionally, the mycotoxins studied—particularly Aflatoxins and Ochratoxin A—are associated with serious toxicological effects. Coexposure to both fungi and mycotoxins may enhance health risks and should be carefully considered in occupational risk assessments. Considering the possible effects related to exposure to fungi and mycotoxins and the number of workers involved in this type of industry in the world, more studies should be conducted. This is the first review to systematically consolidate data on occupational exposure to both fungi and mycotoxins specifically within the coffee industry, highlighting existing knowledge gaps and the need for targeted risk assessments in coffee-producing settings.

Description

This research was funded by the Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal, through Projects IPL/2023/FoodAIIEU_ESTeSL, IPL/2023/ASPRisk_ESTeSL, and IPL/2023/ARAFSawmil_ESTeSL (H&TRC). The authors gratefully acknowledge the FCT/MCTES national support received through the UIDB/05608/2020 and UIDP/05608/2020. This study was funded in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior—Brasil (CAPES)—Finance Code 001.

Keywords

Occupational health Occupational exposure Post-harvest coffee industries Fungi Mycotoxins Dust IPL/2023/FoodAIIEU_ESTeSL IPL/2023/ASPRisk_ESTeSL IPL/2023/ARAFSawmil_ESTeSL FCT_UIDB/05608/2020 FCT_UIDP/05608/2020 Literature review

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.21/21925

Citation

Oliveira FS, Andrade ET, Viegas C, Souza JR, Rabelo GF, Viegas S. Hidden hazards: a literature review on occupational exposure to fungi and mycotoxins in the coffee industry. Aerobiology. 2025;3(2):3.