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Occupational exposure to mould and microbial metabolites during onion sorting—insights into an overlooked workplace

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Abstract

Manual sorting of onions is known to be associated with a bioaerosol exposure. The study aimed to gain an initial indication as to what extent manual sorting of onions is also associated with mycotoxin exposure. Twelve representative samples of outer onion skins from different onion origins were sampled and analyzed with a multimycotoxin method comprising 40 mycotoxins using a single extraction step followed by liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization and triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. Six of the 12 samples were positive for mycotoxins. In those samples, deoxynivalenol, fumonisin B1, and B2 were observed in quantitatively detectable amounts of 3940 ng/g for fumonisin B1 and in the range of 126–587 ng/g for deoxynivalenol and 55–554 ng/g for fumonisin B2. Although the results point to a lower risk due to mycotoxins, the risk should not be completely neglected and has to be considered in the risk assessment.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Ms. Ewelina Soszczyńska and Mr. Robert Kosicki for their technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Prevention, BGHW Institution for Statutory Accident Insurance and Prevention in the Trade and Goods Logistics, M5, 7, 68161, Mannheim, Germany

    Stefan Mayer

  2. Department of Physiology and Toxicology, Institute of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Natural Science, Kazimierz Wielki University, Chodkiewicza 30, 85064, Bydgoszcz, Poland

    Magdalena Twarużek, Anna Błajet-Kosicka & Jan Grajewski

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  1. Stefan Mayer
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  2. Magdalena Twarużek
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Correspondence to Stefan Mayer.

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Mayer, S., Twarużek, M., Błajet-Kosicka, A. et al. Occupational exposure to mould and microbial metabolites during onion sorting—insights into an overlooked workplace. Environ Monit Assess 188, 154 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-016-5150-5

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