title: Ochratoxin A contamination of cereals in an area of high incidence of Balkan endemic nephropathy in Bulgaria.
abstract: In an effort to provide further evidence for the hypothesis that a mycotoxin is involved in the aetiology of Balkan endemic nephropathy and that the latter is associated with the occurrence of urinary system tumours, a survey was made of ochratoxin A contamination of cereal samples from an area of Bulgaria where both endemic nephropathy and urinary system tumours are prevalent and from non-endemic areas. In all, 130 samples of beans, maize and wheat flour were analysed. Ochratoxin A levels were 16.7% (25-27 micrograms/kg) in bean samples from the endemic area and 7.1% (25-50 micrograms/kg) in those from the control areas: in maize samples, the levels were 27.3% (25-35 micrograms/kg) and 9.0% (10-25 micrograms/kg), respectively.
mesh_terms: D001449:Balkan Nephropathy / Q000139:chemically induced*; D002523:Edible Grain / Q000032:analysis*; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000032:analysis; D005433:Flour / Q000032:analysis; D005516:Food Microbiology; D006801:Humans; D009395:Nephritis, Interstitial / Q000139:chemically induced*; D009793:Ochratoxins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D014908:Triticum / Q000032:analysis; D003313:Zea mays / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D009793:Ochratoxins; C025589:ochratoxin A