Ochratoxins

Ochratoxins are naturally occurring toxic compounds produced by some species of Penicillium and Aspergillus fungi. Excessive exposure is toxic to the kidneys and linked with the development of cancer. Occurring widely, ochratoxins have been found as natural contaminants on storage grains, corn, peanuts, cottonseed, and decaying vegetation.

The primary route of ochratoxin exposure is through food that has been contaminated with the ochratoxin-producing fungi. Those foods that have been found to be contaminated are varied and include grains, cereals, rice, beans, corn, red grapes, coffee beans, and pork meat. Processed foods, such as beer or grape juice, made from contaminated foods may also contain ochratoxin. As it has been suggested that aquatic life have the ability to accumulate this compound, fish may also be a source of ochratoxin.

While ochratoxin contamination has been found in foods throughout the world, including the United States, it is primarily found in north-temperate wheat and barley growing areas, with many outbreaks documented in Europe.

Although not enough research has been conducted involving humans to clearly establish ochratoxin as a carcinogen (chemical capable of causing cancer), because there is sufficient evidence that it is carcinogenic to animals, the World Health Organization has classified ochratoxin as being possibly carcinogenic to humans. Researchers have found that among all of the body systems, the kidneys are the organ most vulnerable to ochratoxin's toxic effects, ochratoxin has been labeled as nephrotoxic (nephro=kidney). Researchers have found that the kidneys are the organ most likely to experience DNA damage caused by ochratoxin and are one of the primary sites of tumor formation in experimental animals. In addition, in areas such as the Balkan region in Europe where a high frequency of ochratoxin contamination of grains has been recorded, there is also a high incidence of endemic nephropathy (disease of the kidneys involving fibrosis and renal failure) and a high incidence of and mortality from urinary tract tumors.

Ochratoxin has other negative health effects including its potential to be neurotoxic (capable of disrupting proper brain function). Research with animals has suggested that ochratoxin is toxic to brain cells and causes alterations in neurotransmitter levels.

The primary route of ochratoxin exposure is through food that has been contaminated with the ochratoxin-producing fungi. Those foods that have been found to be contaminated are varied and include grains, cereals, rice, beans, corn, red grapes, coffee beans, and pork meat; processed foods, such as beer or grape juice, made from contaminated foods may also contain ochratoxin. As it has been suggested that aquatic life have the ability to bioconcentrate this compound, fish may also be a source of ochratoxin. While ochratoxin contamination has been found in foods throughout the world, including the United States, it is primarily found in north-temperate wheat and barley growing areas, with many outbreaks documented in Europe.

Although there has not been enough research conducted involving humans to clearly establish OA a carcinogen (chemical capable of causing cancer), reflecting that there is sufficient evidence that it is carcinogenic to animals, the World Health Organization has classified OA as being possibly carcinogenic to humans. As researchers have found that among all of the body systems, the kidneys are the organ most vulnerable to OAs toxic effects, OA has been labeled as nephrotoxic (nephro=kidney). Researchers have found that the kidneys are the organ most likely to experience DNA damage caused by OA and are one of the primary sites of tumor formation among experimental animals. In addition, in areas such as the Balkan region in Europe where a high frequency of OA contamination of grains has been recorded, there is also a high incidence of endemic nephropathy (disease of the kidneys involving fibrosis and renal failure) and a high incidence of and mortality from urinary tract tumors.

OA has other health manifestations including its potential to be neurotoxic, capable of impacting proper brain function. Research with animals has suggested that OA is toxic to brain cells and causes alterations in neurotransmitter levels.