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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Although a great body of literature exists concerning the ingestion of food contaminated with aflatoxin, there are still few studies regarding mycotoxin inhalation in occupational settings. Since mycotoxins are relatively non-volatile, inhalation exposure is cause by inhalation of airborne fungal particulates or fungi-contaminated substrates that contain aflatoxin. We intend to know if there is occupational exposure to aflatoxin in Portuguese poultry and swine production. A total of 19 individuals (11 swine; 8 poultry) agreed and provided blood samples during the course of this investigation. Measurement of AFB1 was performed by ELISA. The samples were treated with pronase (Merck), wash in a Column C18 and purification was made with immunoaffinity columns (R.biopharma), specific for AFB1. It was applied statistical test (Mann-Whitney) to verified statistical difference in AFB1 results between the two settings. Results varied with concentrations from <LOD to 5.96 ng ml-1 (Poultry: <LOD – 3.67 ng ml-1; Swine: <LOD -5.96 ng ml-1. There wasn’t found statistical difference between the two occupational settings, however, results reveal a tendency for poultry workers have higher aflatoxin values, probably because poultry activities are promoter of particles exposure. Only women’s in both settings have results <LOD. These results are probably due to differences in the activities performed.
Exposure to air and dust containing aflatoxin by inhalation should be consider a route of exposure in both settings.
Description
Keywords
Saúde ambiental Saúde ocupacional Aflatoxinas Aviário Environmental health Occupational health Aflatoxin B1 Poultry Biological monitoring Swine production
Citation
Viegas S, Veiga L, Almeida A, Figueiredo P, Carolino E, Viegas C. Biological monitoring of aflatoxin (AFB1) in workers of swine and poultry production. Toxicol Lett. 2012;211 Suppl:S49.