C03044: The analysis of urine samples for biomarkers of exposure to deoxynivalenol, fumonisins and zearalenone
Wednesday 11 May 2005
This research project aims to estimate consumer exposure to mycotoxins including deixynivalenol (DON) by analysing stored urine samples taken during a National Diet and Nutritional Survey (NDNS).
Study Duration: March 2004 to March 2007
Contractor: LIGHT Laboratories, School of Medicine, University of Leeds
Background
In order to reduce exposure of consumers to contaminants, and in view of forthcoming legal limits for deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZON) in foods, it is necessary to accurately assess current levels of exposure to these mycotoxins and also for fumonisins. An assessment of this kind is usually done by estimating consumption of foods, measuring occurrence of the mycotoxin in similar foods, and combining the two figures. A more accurate method of estimating exposure to mycotoxins may be to measure consumption more directly. It is known that a proportion of ingested mycotoxins leave the body via the urine. The National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) takes urine samples for individuals and also stores information about their diet. It is therefore feasible to measure levels of these chemicals in the urine and from these infer levels of exposure.
Research Approach
The project aims to correlate information on the diet of individuals in the NDNS survey with information from chemical analysis of their urine. This analysis will be focussed on biomarkers of DON consumption, as well as direct excretion of fumonisins and zearalenone. These estimates can then be compared to known safety limits to assess if exposure represents a risk to consumer health. The project will begin by concentrating on analysing for biomarkers for DON, that is, chemical derived from DON that indicate its presence. If this approach is successful, more work will follow on measurement of ZON and fumonisins in urine, including limited method development work.