Use of high-performance liquid chromatography to assess airborne mycotoxins. Aflatoxins and ochratoxin A

An HPLC analytical method combining methanol-deionised water (80:20, v/v) extraction, methanol-acetonitrile (50:50, v/v) extraction and fluorescence detection was implanted to analyse ochratoxin A and aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2 of air samples collected during the usual production process in a number of workplaces of a coffee factory to assess the occupational exposure of the engaged workers. The average levels of airborne ochratoxin A and aflatoxins were less than 1.2 and 0.4 ng/m3, respectively, using 50 L air samples. When 150 L air samples were used, levels lower than 0.04 ng/m3 ochratoxin A and 0.013 ng/m3 for aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2, could be detected.