AUTHOR=Martins Carla , Viegas Carla , Eriksen Elke , Graff Pål , Afanou Anani Komlavi , Straumfors Anne , Twarużek Magdalena , Grajewski Jan , Kosicki Robert , Viegas Susana 

TITLE=Unraveling the occupational exposure to mycotoxins in a waste management setting: results from a case study in Norway

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1536836

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2025.1536836

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=IntroductionWaste management represents an occupational setting where fungi are significant contaminants. This study aimed to assess the exposure of waste workers to mycotoxins through a human biomonitoring study.MethodsA total of 33 workers and 19 controls provided spot urine samples to determine 10 mycotoxins’ urinary biomarkers using liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Risk characterization was performed using hazard quotient and margin of exposure assessments.ResultsThe results indicated that workers were exposed to six out of the 10 mycotoxins tested, with the following detection rates: deoxynivalenol (91%, 30/33), ochratoxin A (33%, 11/33), zearalenone (17%, 5/33), α-zearalenol (12%, 4/33), β-zearalenol (12%, 4/33), and HT-2 toxin (3%, 1/33). Within controls and outwith controls, were exposed to 5/10 and 2/10 mycotoxins, respectively. All participants exhibited hazard quotients for deoxynivalenol and zearalenone below one, indicating that the exposure is unlikely to pose a health risk. However, when considering the margin of exposure determined for ochratoxin A, 18% of the total participants presented results below 200 for non-neoplastic effects, and 100% of the total participants presented values below 10,000 for neoplastic effects, suggesting potential health concerns that require further assessment.DiscussionThis study highlights the need for future research on occupational exposure to mycotoxins in waste management settings.