Abstract
Possible health risks associated with occupational inhalation of mycotoxin-containing dust remain largely unknown, partly because methods for mycotoxin detection are not sensitive enough for the small dust masses obtained by personal sampling, which is needed for inhalable exposure measurements. Specific and sensitive PCR detection of fungi with mycotoxin-producing potential seem to be a good surrogate for occupational exposure measurements that include all fungal structures independent of morphology and cultivability. Results should, however, be interpreted with caution due to variable correlations with mycotoxin concentrations.
Highlights
Mycotoxins are fungal metabolites that may exert immunosuppressive, endocrine, carcinogenic and toxic effects on human and animals
This review focuses on the use of species-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect toxigenic fungi in personal air samples, and how this may be used to evaluate occupational mycotoxin exposure
Fungi are often used as indicators for mycotoxins both in agricultural and occupational settings, but they must be quantified and identified at the species level in order to relate the fungi to a certain mycotoxin because the mycotoxin production depends on both the fungal genus, species and strain
Summary
Mycotoxins are fungal metabolites that may exert immunosuppressive, endocrine, carcinogenic and toxic effects on human and animals. The major mycotoxin classes of concern are trichothecenes, aflatoxins, fumonisins, zearalenone, and ochratoxin A, which are produced by the three fungal genera Fusarium, Aspergillus and Penicillium [1]. A proper exposure assessment is needed when evaluating health effects of work place exposure This requires personal sampling [15] and quantitative determination of the agents of interest. Traditional methods for fungal determination, such as microscopy and cultivation, do either not discriminate closely related species or are limited to cultivable fungi. PCR-based detection of species-specific fungal DNA has recently been used to measure personal exposure of toxigenic Fusarium species [19]. This review focuses on the use of species-specific PCR to detect toxigenic fungi in personal air samples, and how this may be used to evaluate occupational mycotoxin exposure. The new approach prompts a thorough discussion of how to interpret the results compared to cultivation (cfu/m3) and microscopy (spores/m3)
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