The mycotoxin ochratoxin A (OTA) is a potent nephrotoxin with carcinogenic properties and, thus, of concern as a food contaminant. Since food contaminant data are scarce in Bangladesh, we applied human biomonitoring to gain more insights into OTA exposure in the country’s population. OTA concentrations in human milk and urine samples of nursing mothers were determined with the aim to assess also exposure to this mycotoxin in breastfed infants. Breastfeeding mothers (n = 74) from three districts of Bangladesh (Sylhet, Cumilla, and Mymensingh region) participated in this study. They provided demographic data, along with breast milk and urine samples. OTA levels were measured by a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with a detection limit of 60 ng/L for milk and 30 ng/L for urine.

OTA was detected in 62.2% of all breast milk samples (mean 74.8 ± 49.0 ng/L, range < LOD–243.3 ng/L) and in 51.4% of all urine samples (mean 44.3 ± 63.5 ng/L, range < LOD–519.3 ng/L). The differences observed between regions for mean breast milk or for urinary OTA levels were relatively small. No significant correlation was observed between OTA levels in breast milk and food consumption patterns among nursing mothers. Regarding infant exposure, the estimated average daily intake of OTA for all was 15.0 ng/kg bw/day (range 4.5–45 ng/kg bw/day). In 34.5% of these infants, their estimated daily OTA intake exceeded a preliminary TDI value set by EFSA (17 ng/kg bw/day). The mean OTA intake was slightly higher (16.2 ± 7.8 ng/kg bw/day) in 1–2 months babies than in older infants (< 2 to 12 months), although the difference was not significant. Presence of OTA in most milk and urine samples of nursing mothers documents their widespread dietary mycotoxin exposure. Although based on a relatively small number of participants, the present analysis indicates non-negligible exposure of some nursed infants in Bangladesh. Therefore, further biomonitoring studies and investigations on major sources of OTA in food commodities are encouraged.

霉菌毒素赭曲霉毒素 A (OTA) 是一种强效肾毒素，具有致癌性，因此作为食品污染物而受到关注。由于孟加拉国缺乏食品污染物数据，我们应用人体生物监测来更深入地了解该国人口中的 OTA 暴露情况。测定母乳和哺乳母亲尿液样本中的 OTA 浓度，目的是评估母乳喂养的婴儿接触这种霉菌毒素的情况。来自孟加拉国三个地区（锡尔赫特、库米拉和迈门辛地区）的母乳喂养母亲 (n = 74) 参与了这项研究。他们提供了人口统计数据以及母乳和尿液样本。OTA 水平通过竞争性酶联免疫吸附测定 (ELISA) 进行测量，牛奶的检测限为 60 ng/L，尿液的检测限为 30 ng/L。

62.2% 的母乳样本（平均值 74.8 ± 49.0 ng/L，范围 < LOD–243.3 ng/L）和 51.4% 的尿液样本（平均值 44.3 ± 63.5 ng/L，范围 < LOD– 519.3 纳克/升）。各地区之间观察到的平均母乳或尿液 OTA 水平的差异相对较小。母乳中的 OTA 水平与哺乳母亲的食物消费模式之间没有观察到显着相关性。关于婴儿暴露，估计所有人 OTA 的平均每日摄入量为 15.0 ng/kg bw/天（范围 4.5–45 ng/kg bw/天）。其中 34.5% 的婴儿估计每日 OTA 摄入量超过了 EFSA 设定的初步 TDI 值（17 纳克/公斤体重/天）。1-2 个月婴儿的平均 OTA 摄入量（16.2 ± 7.8 ng/kg bw/天）略高于较大婴儿（< 2 至 12 个月），但差异并不显着。大多数哺乳期母亲的牛奶和尿液样本中都存在 OTA，这表明她们广泛接触膳食霉菌毒素。尽管基于相对较少的参与者，目前的分析表明孟加拉国一些哺乳婴儿的暴露情况不容忽视。因此，鼓励对食品中OTA的主要来源进行进一步的生物监测研究和调查。