title: [Biomonitoring of ochratoxin A in a small sample of cargo workers handling grains and raw coffee].
abstract: Handling cargo such as grains and raw coffee beans may result in an inhalation mycotoxin-containing dusts from these commodities. Ochratoxin A (OTA) was analyzed in blood samples obtained from nine cargo workers who handle these commodities at the Hamburg harbour. The OTA plasma levels ranged between 0.14 and 1.04 ng/ml. The mean (0.5±0.3) and median value (0.42 ng/ml) for this sample are slightly higher than those reported previously for the general population in Germany resulting from dietary OTA exposure alone. Our preliminary data point to a possible inhalation exposure, but further investigations are necessary for a definite proof of this exposure. This pilot study is an example of the usefulness of biomonitoring for OTA in occupational contexts.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Arbeitsphysiologie an der Universität Dortmund, Ardeystrasse 67, 44139, Dortmund, Germany, deger@lfado.ce.
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Degen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meifort
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blaszkewicz