Ochratoxin A in human blood in European countries.

Ochratoxin A is a mycotoxin which contaminates cereals in particular and occurs all over the world. Humans are undoubtedly exposed to this toxin through foods of vegetable and animal origin and through airborne dust. The presence of ochratoxin A in human blood has been suggested as an indicator for indirect assessment of exposure to this nephrotoxic agent. In several countries, therefore, human blood has been collected with the purpose of obtaining more information on the intake of ochratoxin A. Analyses of serum samples in European countries revealed that blood from healthy humans was contaminated with ochratoxin A at concentrations of 0.1-14.4 micrograms/l. The frequency of contamination of human sera seems to indicate continuous, widespread exposure of humans to ochratoxin A.