From mold to mycotoxins: an LC-MS/MS method for quantifying airborne mycotoxins in indoor environments
Wiebke Derz1, Paul W Elsinghorst2,3,4
1Central Institute of the Bundeswehr Medical Service Munich, Ingolstädter Landstraße 102, 85748, Garching, Germany.
Abstract:
Airborne exposure to mycotoxins and fungal spores poses a significant yet often overlooked risk to human health. Inhalation and ingestion of mycotoxins being adsorbed onto dust particles or as part of mycelium debris are the primary pathways of incorporation. Exposure assessment, however, is hampered as the detection of airborne mycotoxins remains challenging due to very low sampling masses, ultra-trace level toxin concentrations, and the complexity of dust matrices. Here, we present a reliable sampling and LC-MS/MS-based quantification method for 29 mycotoxins highly relevant to airborne mycotoxin exposure. Total suspended particulate matter (TSP) was collected using a stationary sampler equipped with glass fiber filters, which were subsequently classified according to composition and extent of their loading. Extraction conditions were optimized and standard addition applied to match the observed matrix effects. The method was fully validated by applying a paired observations approach covering working ranges and quantification limits applicable to ultra-trace analysis. Applicability of the method has been demonstrated in three authentic cases of mold-infested working environments, where seven different mycotoxins including alternariol monomethyl ether, sterigmatocystin, and stachybotrylactam were successfully detected and quantified.
Insights
Accurate detection of airborne mycotoxins is crucial for assessing health risks. This study introduces a validated method for quantifying 29 mycotoxins in airborne dust, enabling better exposure assessment.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Analytical Chemistry
- Toxicology
Background:
- Airborne mycotoxins and fungal spores present a significant health risk, often underestimated.
- Exposure pathways include inhalation and ingestion of mycotoxins adsorbed onto dust or within fungal debris.
- Assessing airborne mycotoxin exposure is challenging due to low sample masses, ultra-trace concentrations, and complex dust matrices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a reliable method for sampling and quantifying airborne mycotoxins.
- To enable accurate exposure assessment in environments with potential fungal contamination.
- To detect 29 mycotoxins relevant to human health risks.
Main Methods:
- Collection of total suspended particulate matter (TSP) on glass fiber filters.
- Optimization of extraction conditions and use of standard addition to address matrix effects.
- Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for sensitive and specific quantification.
Main Results:
- A fully validated method for quantifying 29 airborne mycotoxins was established.
- The method demonstrated applicability for ultra-trace analysis, with validated working ranges and quantification limits.
- Seven mycotoxins, including alternariol monomethyl ether, sterigmatocystin, and stachybotrylactam, were detected in mold-infested environments.
Conclusions:
- The developed LC-MS/MS method provides a reliable tool for airborne mycotoxin exposure assessment.
- This method can be applied in real-world scenarios, such as mold-infested workplaces.
- Accurate quantification of airborne mycotoxins is essential for protecting human health.
