World Mycotoxin Journal, August 2013 online 2013; 6 (3): 249-255 ARTICLE
IN PRESS
Wageningen Academic P u b l i s h e r s
Occupational exposure to aflatoxin B1: the case of poultry and swine production S. Viegas1,2, L. Veiga1, P. Figueredo1, A. Almeida1, E. Carolino1, R. Sabino3, C. Veríssimo3 and C. Viegas1 1Lisbon School of Health Technology, Polytechnic Institute of Lisbon, Parque das Nações, Avenida D. João II, 1900-096 Lisbon,
Portugal; 2Centro de Investigação e Estudos em Saúde Pública, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, ENSP, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Avenida Padre Cruz, 1600-560 Lisbon, Portugal; 3Laboratório de Micologia, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo, Jorge, Av. Padre Cruz, 1649-016 Lisbon, Portugal;
[email protected] Received: 10 December 2012 / Accepted: 1 April 2013 © 2013 Wageningen Academic Publishers
RESEARCH ARTICLE Abstract Although there is an abundance of literature concerning the ingestion of food contaminated with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), only a small number of studies explore mycotoxin exposure in occupational settings. Taking this into consideration, our study was developed with the intention of elucidating whether there is occupational exposure to AFB1 in Portuguese poultry and swine production facilities. A specific biomarker was used to assess exposure to AFB1. A total of 45 workers (34 from poultry farms; 11 from swine production facilities) participated in this study, providing blood samples. Additionally, a control group (n=30) composed of subjects without any type of contact with agricultural activity was considered. All participants signed a consent form and were provided with the study protocol. Eighteen poultry workers (58.6%) and six workers from the swine production facilities (54.5%) showed detectable levels of AFB1. In the control group, the AFB1 values were all below 1 ng/ml. No significant differences in AFB1 levels in serum between workers from poultry and swine farms were found. Poultry workers, however, showed the highest serum levels and a significant statistical difference between this group and the control group was found. Results suggest that exposure to AFB1 by inhalation occurs in both occupational settings representing an additional risk that needs to be recognised, assessed and prevented. Keywords: aflatoxin B1, fungal contamination, occupational exposure, poultry production, swine production
1. Introduction Working in swine confinement buildings doubles or triples the rate of respiratory symptoms, which are clearly associated with the number of work hours spent inside those buildings (Letourneau et al., 2010). Modern methods of poultry facility management also require that a large proportion of the day is spent in an atmosphere containing comparatively high levels of dust, gases and odours that can affect workers’ health (Wathes et al., 1997; Whyte, 1993). Both settings are prone to fungal contamination and, consequently, their metabolites (Attwood et al., 1987; HSE, 2008). The work performed in poultry and swine farms involves high dust aerosolisation, (Kim et al., 2008; Whyte, 2010) and, consequently, causes wide spreading of fungi and their metabolites, such as volatile organic compounds and mycotoxins (Millner, 2009; Tsapko et al., 2011).
In most conditions, exposure to mycotoxins by inhalation is lower than that related to oral intake. However, it is important to consider that workers can be occasionally exposed to high airborne levels of mycotoxins during certain operations; inhalation of certain mycotoxins may be more harmful than oral exposure; and there may be combined exposure to multiple mycotoxins, which could enhance the effects (Degen, 2008, 2011; Halstensen et al., 2004). The extent of the health impact caused by mycotoxin exposure depends on the following factors: (1) mycotoxin chemical properties, such as their ability to penetrate the cell membranes; (2) the intake route, level, duration and frequency of exposure; and (3) the body´s sensitivity. In the case of inhalation exposure, it is also important to consider the size of the airborne particles, as sufficiently small particulate matter may reach the pulmonary alveoli (Mayer et al., 2008).
ISSN 1875-0710 print, ISSN 1875-0796 online, DOI 10.3920/WMJ2012.1531249
