Tajima Toshiki, Isobe Tomohiko, Saito Isao, Kondo Takaaki, Suzuki Koji, Fujii Ryosuke, Tsuboi Yoshiki, Sugita-Konishi Yoshiko, Ueyama Jun
Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Field of Omics Health Sciences, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine.
Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies.
Environ Health Prev Med. 2025;30:19. doi: 10.1265/ehpm.24-00245.
Among the more than 300 mycotoxins that are known to have toxic effects on animals and humans, Fusarium toxins deoxynivalenol (DON), T-2 and HT-2 toxins (T2/HT2), and zearalenone (ZEN) are frequently detected in domestic agricultural products. This study aimed to assess DON, T2/HT2, and ZEN exposure in Japanese adults by measuring urinary mycotoxins, observing their distributions, and making comparisons with data from other countries.
A total of 201 individuals participated in the study. Twenty-four-hour urine samples were collected from young adults (34 men and 35 women) in the Tokai region (urban area) and spot urine samples were collected from middle-aged and elderly adults (64 men and 68 women) in the Donan area of Hokkaido Prefecture (rural area). Urinary DON, T2/HT2, and ZEN levels were measured using a validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method.
For DON, T2/HT2, and ZEN, the detection frequencies above the limit of detection (LOD) level (0.15, 0.13, and 0.01 µg/L, respectively) in all the samples were 53%, 26%, and 71%, respectively. The median concentrations (95 percentile) of urinary DON, HT2, and ZEN were 0.19 (3.93), <LOD (0.55), and 0.02 (0.12) µg/L, respectively. Although at least one of the investigated mycotoxins was detected in the urine of 86% of study participants, the concentrations were similar to or lower than those found in other countries (from 19 reports within the past decade). Moreover, the probable daily intake (PDI) values in the present study were lower than the provisional maximum tolerable daily intake levels. The urinary mycotoxin levels did not significantly differ with respect to sex, age, or occupation.
This study represents the first comprehensive exposure assessment for DON, T2/HT2, and ZEN in Japanese adults using human biomonitoring methods. These data provide valuable information for a better understanding of mycotoxin exposure in Japan.
在已知对动物和人类具有毒性作用的300多种霉菌毒素中，镰刀菌毒素脱氧雪腐镰刀菌烯醇（DON）、T-2和HT-2毒素（T2/HT2）以及玉米赤霉烯酮（ZEN）在家用农产品中经常被检测到。本研究旨在通过测量尿霉菌毒素、观察其分布并与其他国家的数据进行比较，评估日本成年人中DON、T2/HT2和ZEN的暴露情况。
共有201人参与了该研究。从东海地区（市区）的年轻成年人（34名男性和35名女性）中收集24小时尿液样本，从北海道地区十胜地区（农村地区）的中年和老年成年人（64名男性和68名女性）中收集即时尿液样本。使用经过验证的液相色谱 - 串联质谱法测量尿中DON、T2/HT2和ZEN的水平。
对于DON、T2/HT2和ZEN，所有样本中高于检测限（LOD）水平（分别为0.15、0.13和0.01μg/L）的检测频率分别为53%、26%和71%。尿中DON、HT2和ZEN的中位数浓度（第95百分位数）分别为0.19（3.93）、<LOD（0.55）和0.02（0.12）μg/L。尽管在86%的研究参与者的尿液中检测到了至少一种所研究的霉菌毒素，但其浓度与其他国家（过去十年内的19份报告）发现的浓度相似或更低。此外，本研究中的可能每日摄入量（PDI）值低于暂定的每日最大耐受摄入量水平。尿霉菌毒素水平在性别、年龄或职业方面没有显著差异。
本研究是首次使用人体生物监测方法对日本成年人中的DON、T2/HT2和ZEN进行全面暴露评估。这些数据为更好地了解日本霉菌毒素暴露情况提供了有价值的信息。
