Exposure to Ochratoxin A in Europe: Comparison with a region of northern Spain

Human exposure to Ochratoxin A (OTA) has been detected in Europe and variou s other countries by analysing human blood. With the aim of determining if such exposure also occurs in Spain, blood samples were collected from healt hy donors and from patients undergoing haemodialysis from a region of north ern Spain. OTA is routinely analysed by HPLC with fluorescence detection, a fter validation of the analytical method. The percentage of positive sample s was 53.3% in healthy people (n=75), and 77.8% in patients (n=72) (Detecti on limit = 0.52 ng/ml of plasma). The mean concentration was 0.71 ng/ml for healthy people, and 1.97 ng/ml for the patients. The difference between th e two values was statistically significant (p<0.001). After a multivariate adjustment by the multiple linear regression method, and taking into accoun t potentially interfering effects of age, sex and month of extraction, sign ificantly lower levels where found during the months of Tune and October. N o variation depending on age or sex was detected. These results demonstrate that Spanish people as well are exposed to this mycotoxin, as occurs in so me other countries, and that the toxin is accumulated in patients with kidn ey disorders. The plasma concentrations are similar to those of France or I taly and lower than in some other European countries.