[Ochratoxin a analyses of blood samples from workers at waste handling facilities]

Tasks such as manual sorting of domestic wastes for recyclable goods and the deposition of various materials may result in inhalation of mycotoxin-containing aerosols. Ochratoxin A (OTA) was analyzed in blood samples from workers employed at waste handling facilities in Southern Germany to assess the potential impact of this mycotoxin, and explore its use as a biomarker of exposure to bioaerosols. Results from this analysis are reported: OTA serum levels (median values) in subgroups of workers involved in waste deposition (n=76 'Deponierer') or in waste sorting (n=60 'Wertstoffsortierer') were 0.36 and 0.53 ng/ml, respectively. Both groups are natives of countries within the European Community (EU). In waste sorters who were born in other European (non-EU) countries (n=72) or elsewhere (n=12 from Asia, Africa), the OTA serum levels were 0.50 and 0.37 ng/ml, respectively. In controls (n=84 office clerks at the facilities; EU citizens) the median OTA value was 0.39 ng/ml. Comparing the different groups, and previously published data on median OTA levels in the general population (0.21 ng/ml) which result from dietary (background) exposure to OTA in Germany, our data point to an additional uptake of this mycotoxin by inhalation in workers with exposure to bioaerosols. The results support the view that apart from the pathogenic and allergological relevance of microbial emissions from garbage, secondary fungal metabolites, and thus toxicological aspects, deserve further attention.