Human ochratoxicosis in France

The prevalence of human ochratoxicosis in France is being determined using serum and plasma collected from apparently healthy people. The analytical method is based on the partition coefficient of ochratoxin A in aqueous and organic solvents, according to pH. High-performance liquid chromatography and spectrofluorimetry are used for detection and quantification (limit of detection, greater than 0.2 ng/ml). The presence of ochrotoxin A is confirmed by the action of carboxypeptidase to yield ochratoxin alpha or by derivatization of ochratoxin A with boron trifluoride. The significance of the interim values obtained and the number of positive samples is discussed. A comparison with the distribution of known values in Germany and Scandinavia could be helpful in risk assessment with a view to prevention.