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Volume 17
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Article

Biomonitoring Pilot Surveys of Zearalenone in Breastmilk and the Urine of Children in Central Portugal

by
Sofia Duarte
1,2,*,
Inês Duarte
2,
Myrella Duarte
2,
Ana Paiva
1,
Ricardo Cabeças
1,
Liliana J. G. Silva
2,
André M. P. T. Pereira
2,
Celeste Lino
2 and
Angelina Pena
2
1
Centro de Investigação Vasco da Gama (CIVG)/Departamento de Ciências Veterinárias, Escola Universitária Vasco da Gama (EUVG), Campus Universitário, Av. José R. Sousa Fernandes, 3020–210 Coimbra, Portugal
2
LAQV, REQUIMTE, Laboratório de Bromatologia e Farmacognosia, Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade de Coimbra, Polo III, Azinhaga de Sta Comba, 3000–548 Coimbra, Portugal
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Toxins 2025, 17(4), 162; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins17040162
Submission received: 5 March 2025 / Revised: 15 March 2025 / Accepted: 19 March 2025 / Published: 25 March 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mycotoxins—Biomonitoring and Exposure)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Zearalenone (ZEA) is a mycotoxin that acts primarily as an endocrine disruptor. Biomonitoring studies are needed to assess exposure and risk, particularly among vulnerable groups. This study reports two pilot biomonitoring surveys of ZEA in 38 lactating mothers and 42 children (5–12 years old). Both were associated with a questionnaire to collect data on the sociodemographics and eating habits of the participants. About 76% of urine samples were contaminated (188.12 ± 235.99 ng/mL), with the hazard quotient reaching 2.36 in the worst-case scenario for younger children. Of the analyzed breastmilk samples, 55.26% were contaminated (158.26 ± 77.50). A statistically significant association between ZEA contamination of breastmilk and the maternal consumption of wholemeal bread, cereal flakes, sausages, smoked meat and pork was found, suggesting that these foods are determinants of higher exposure. The hazard quotient in the worst-case scenario for breastfed babies under 16 weeks was estimated as 0.61. Results confirm frequent exposure to this endocrine disruptor among these two vulnerable groups in central Portugal, showing the need for further studies.
Keywords: mycotoxin; milk; breastfeeding; contaminants; exposure; risk mycotoxin; milk; breastfeeding; contaminants; exposure; risk

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Duarte, S.; Duarte, I.; Duarte, M.; Paiva, A.; Cabeças, R.; Silva, L.J.G.; Pereira, A.M.P.T.; Lino, C.; Pena, A. Biomonitoring Pilot Surveys of Zearalenone in Breastmilk and the Urine of Children in Central Portugal. Toxins 2025, 17, 162. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins17040162

AMA Style

Duarte S, Duarte I, Duarte M, Paiva A, Cabeças R, Silva LJG, Pereira AMPT, Lino C, Pena A. Biomonitoring Pilot Surveys of Zearalenone in Breastmilk and the Urine of Children in Central Portugal. Toxins. 2025; 17(4):162. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins17040162

Chicago/Turabian Style

Duarte, Sofia, Inês Duarte, Myrella Duarte, Ana Paiva, Ricardo Cabeças, Liliana J. G. Silva, André M. P. T. Pereira, Celeste Lino, and Angelina Pena. 2025. "Biomonitoring Pilot Surveys of Zearalenone in Breastmilk and the Urine of Children in Central Portugal" Toxins 17, no. 4: 162. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins17040162

APA Style

Duarte, S., Duarte, I., Duarte, M., Paiva, A., Cabeças, R., Silva, L. J. G., Pereira, A. M. P. T., Lino, C., & Pena, A. (2025). Biomonitoring Pilot Surveys of Zearalenone in Breastmilk and the Urine of Children in Central Portugal. Toxins, 17(4), 162. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins17040162

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