Assessment of Mycotoxins in Infants and Children Cereal-Based Foods: Dietary Exposure and Potential Health Risks
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Public health concerns are rising regarding potential mycotoxin contamination in processed cereal-based products consumed by infants and young children. Due to their developing physiological systems and greater vulnerability, children are particularly susceptible to the adverse health effects of mycotoxins. This study investigated the presence of a wide range of mycotoxins (20 in total, encompassing various chemical classes, such as aflatoxins, ochratoxins, trichothecenes, zearalenones, fumonisins, citrinin and sterigmatocystin) in readily available processed cereal-based foods targeted towards infants and children in Portugal. Among the 148 analysed samples, 43% contained at least one of the targeted mycotoxins. Aflatoxin B1 (8.1%) and fumonisin B1 (10.8%) were the most commonly detected regulated mycotoxins, while emerging mycotoxins like enniatin B (14.9%) and beauvericin (10.1%) were also prevalent. The most commonly co-occurring mycotoxins were ENNB + BEA and FB1 + FB2. Although the Estimated Daily Intake of non-carcinogenic mycotoxins in most products was below their respective Tolerable Daily Intake (DONs and FBs (1 μg/kg bw/day), HT-2 and T-2 (0.02 μg/kg bw/day), ZEN (0.25 μg/kg bw/day), and CIT (0.2 μg/kg bw/day)), Hazard Quotient and Hazard Index values exceeded safe thresholds, indicating potential health risks.
Source: Exposure and Health
Institutions: Universidade do Porto, Rede de Química e Tecnologia, LAQV Requimte
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,590
Awards: G1240268737, G138060719, G1509028180, G1522114529, G1977608718, G2012127377, G2346795057, Laboratório Associado para a Química Verde - Tecnologias e Processos Limpos, Laboratório Associado para a Química Verde - Tecnologias e Processos Limpos, G2756637201, G2814222956, G332082475, G4046065984, G425004846, G6119126181, Emerging mycotoxins in infant and children foods: occurrence, bioavailability and exposure, G6463117426, G6997658380, G7229345049, G824076568, Laboratório Associado para a Química Verde - Tecnologias e Processos Limpos
OpenAlex ID: W4403156643