Biomonitoring Pilot Surveys of Zearalenone in Breastmilk and the Urine of Children in Central Portugal
Zearalenone (ZEA) is a mycotoxin that acts primarily as an endocrine disruptor. Biomonitoring studies are needed to assess exposure and risk, particularly among vulnerable groups. This study reports two pilot biomonitoring surveys of ZEA in 38 lactating mothers and 42 children (5–12 years old). Both...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/17/4/162 |
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| author | Sofia Duarte Inês Duarte Myrella Duarte Ana Paiva Ricardo Cabeças Liliana J. G. Silva André M. P. T. Pereira Celeste Lino Angelina Pena |
| author_facet | Sofia Duarte Inês Duarte Myrella Duarte Ana Paiva Ricardo Cabeças Liliana J. G. Silva André M. P. T. Pereira Celeste Lino Angelina Pena |
| author_sort | Sofia Duarte |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Zearalenone (ZEA) is a mycotoxin that acts primarily as an endocrine disruptor. Biomonitoring studies are needed to assess exposure and risk, particularly among vulnerable groups. This study reports two pilot biomonitoring surveys of ZEA in 38 lactating mothers and 42 children (5–12 years old). Both were associated with a questionnaire to collect data on the sociodemographics and eating habits of the participants. About 76% of urine samples were contaminated (188.12 ± 235.99 ng/mL), with the hazard quotient reaching 2.36 in the worst-case scenario for younger children. Of the analyzed breastmilk samples, 55.26% were contaminated (158.26 ± 77.50). A statistically significant association between ZEA contamination of breastmilk and the maternal consumption of wholemeal bread, cereal flakes, sausages, smoked meat and pork was found, suggesting that these foods are determinants of higher exposure. The hazard quotient in the worst-case scenario for breastfed babies under 16 weeks was estimated as 0.61. Results confirm frequent exposure to this endocrine disruptor among these two vulnerable groups in central Portugal, showing the need for further studies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2a131c6b50194330a29eca731555cd8f |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2072-6651 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Toxins |
| spelling | doaj-art-2a131c6b50194330a29eca731555cd8f2025-08-20T02:18:10ZengMDPI AGToxins2072-66512025-03-0117416210.3390/toxins17040162Biomonitoring Pilot Surveys of Zearalenone in Breastmilk and the Urine of Children in Central PortugalSofia Duarte0Inês Duarte1Myrella Duarte2Ana Paiva3Ricardo Cabeças4Liliana J. G. Silva5André M. P. T. Pereira6Celeste Lino7Angelina Pena8Centro de Investigação Vasco da Gama (CIVG)/Departamento de Ciências Veterinárias, Escola Universitária Vasco da Gama (EUVG), Campus Universitário, Av. José R. Sousa Fernandes, 3020–210 Coimbra, PortugalLAQV, REQUIMTE, Laboratório de Bromatologia e Farmacognosia, Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade de Coimbra, Polo III, Azinhaga de Sta Comba, 3000–548 Coimbra, PortugalLAQV, REQUIMTE, Laboratório de Bromatologia e Farmacognosia, Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade de Coimbra, Polo III, Azinhaga de Sta Comba, 3000–548 Coimbra, PortugalCentro de Investigação Vasco da Gama (CIVG)/Departamento de Ciências Veterinárias, Escola Universitária Vasco da Gama (EUVG), Campus Universitário, Av. José R. Sousa Fernandes, 3020–210 Coimbra, PortugalCentro de Investigação Vasco da Gama (CIVG)/Departamento de Ciências Veterinárias, Escola Universitária Vasco da Gama (EUVG), Campus Universitário, Av. José R. Sousa Fernandes, 3020–210 Coimbra, PortugalLAQV, REQUIMTE, Laboratório de Bromatologia e Farmacognosia, Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade de Coimbra, Polo III, Azinhaga de Sta Comba, 3000–548 Coimbra, PortugalLAQV, REQUIMTE, Laboratório de Bromatologia e Farmacognosia, Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade de Coimbra, Polo III, Azinhaga de Sta Comba, 3000–548 Coimbra, PortugalLAQV, REQUIMTE, Laboratório de Bromatologia e Farmacognosia, Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade de Coimbra, Polo III, Azinhaga de Sta Comba, 3000–548 Coimbra, PortugalLAQV, REQUIMTE, Laboratório de Bromatologia e Farmacognosia, Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade de Coimbra, Polo III, Azinhaga de Sta Comba, 3000–548 Coimbra, PortugalZearalenone (ZEA) is a mycotoxin that acts primarily as an endocrine disruptor. Biomonitoring studies are needed to assess exposure and risk, particularly among vulnerable groups. This study reports two pilot biomonitoring surveys of ZEA in 38 lactating mothers and 42 children (5–12 years old). Both were associated with a questionnaire to collect data on the sociodemographics and eating habits of the participants. About 76% of urine samples were contaminated (188.12 ± 235.99 ng/mL), with the hazard quotient reaching 2.36 in the worst-case scenario for younger children. Of the analyzed breastmilk samples, 55.26% were contaminated (158.26 ± 77.50). A statistically significant association between ZEA contamination of breastmilk and the maternal consumption of wholemeal bread, cereal flakes, sausages, smoked meat and pork was found, suggesting that these foods are determinants of higher exposure. The hazard quotient in the worst-case scenario for breastfed babies under 16 weeks was estimated as 0.61. Results confirm frequent exposure to this endocrine disruptor among these two vulnerable groups in central Portugal, showing the need for further studies.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/17/4/162mycotoxinmilkbreastfeedingcontaminantsexposurerisk |
| spellingShingle | Sofia Duarte Inês Duarte Myrella Duarte Ana Paiva Ricardo Cabeças Liliana J. G. Silva André M. P. T. Pereira Celeste Lino Angelina Pena Biomonitoring Pilot Surveys of Zearalenone in Breastmilk and the Urine of Children in Central Portugal Toxins mycotoxin milk breastfeeding contaminants exposure risk |
| title | Biomonitoring Pilot Surveys of Zearalenone in Breastmilk and the Urine of Children in Central Portugal |
| title_full | Biomonitoring Pilot Surveys of Zearalenone in Breastmilk and the Urine of Children in Central Portugal |
| title_fullStr | Biomonitoring Pilot Surveys of Zearalenone in Breastmilk and the Urine of Children in Central Portugal |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biomonitoring Pilot Surveys of Zearalenone in Breastmilk and the Urine of Children in Central Portugal |
| title_short | Biomonitoring Pilot Surveys of Zearalenone in Breastmilk and the Urine of Children in Central Portugal |
| title_sort | biomonitoring pilot surveys of zearalenone in breastmilk and the urine of children in central portugal |
| topic | mycotoxin milk breastfeeding contaminants exposure risk |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/17/4/162 |
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