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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #113499
Title: OCCURRENCE OF OCHRATOXIN A IN HOUSE DUST

Author
item RICHARD, JOHN - ROMER LABS, UNION, MO
item ADAMS, JEFFREY - CONSLTNT, ROMER LABS, MO
item Plattner, Ronald

Submitted to: Association Official Analytical Chemists Annual Intrl Meeting & Exposition
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/14/2000
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Samples of accumulated dust were collected from the heating ducts in a household where signs resembling ochratoxin poisoning in animals had occurred. Fungal analysis from previously collected air samples from this house yielded several Penicillium species and Aspergillus ochraceus. None of these isolates were available to us to study. However, a composite sample from six collected dust samples was examined by HPLC and 58 ppb of ochratoxin A was found. A second collection of 6 samples were individually tested for ochratoxin A by HPLC. All samples yielded at least a trace of ochratoxin A however one sample of dust from the heating ducts contained over 1500 ppb of ochratoxin A while another sample from another duct yielded 306 ppb. Ochratoxin A was confirmed in all samples by LC-MS and ochratoxin was evident in the samples by TLC analysis. Cultures of the dust yielded numerous colonies of fungi primarily identified as Aspergillus ochraceus. This is a finding in a single house and believed to be the first report of ochratoxin in house dust. The general occurrence of ochratoxin in house dust is unknown and in this case no cause and effect relationship to the disease in the animals or the human inhabitants was established.