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Ptaquiloside in bracken spores from Britain

Lars Holm Rasmussen1, Bjørn Schmidt2, Elizabeth Sheffield3

  • 1The Graduate School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Bülowsvej 17, DK1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.

Chemosphere
|November 29, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Ptaquiloside, a carcinogen found in bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum), was detected in its spores. While present, the low spore concentration suggests inhalation is a minor exposure route compared to contaminated food or water.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Toxicology
  • Botany

Background:

  • Bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum) contains secondary metabolites suspected of human carcinogenicity.
  • Ptaquiloside, a potent norsesquiterpene glucoside, is the primary identified carcinogen, posing risks through contaminated food and water.
  • The potential for carcinogen ingestion via airborne bracken fern spores has been theorized but not previously investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the presence of ptaquiloside in bracken fern spores.
  • To quantify the concentration of ptaquiloside within collected bracken fern spore samples.
  • To assess the significance of spore inhalation as an exposure pathway for ptaquiloside.

Main Methods:

  • Collection of bracken fern spores from various locations in Britain.
  • Chemical analysis to detect and quantify ptaquiloside in the spore samples.
  • Comparison of ptaquiloside levels in spores to those in other parts of the fern.

Main Results:

  • Ptaquiloside was identified in all analyzed bracken fern spore samples.
  • The maximum concentration of ptaquiloside found in spores was 29 μg g(-1).
  • Ptaquiloside levels in spores were significantly lower than in other bracken fern tissues.

Conclusions:

  • Bracken fern spores contain the carcinogen ptaquiloside, albeit in low concentrations.
  • Inhalation of bracken fern spores is likely a secondary exposure route for ptaquiloside.
  • Consumption of contaminated food and water remains the primary concern for ptaquiloside exposure.

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