Ochratoxin A contamination of cereals in an area of high incidence of Balkan endemic nephropathy in Bulgaria

Abstract

In an effort to provide further evidence for the hypothesis that a mycotoxin is involved in the aetiology of Balkan endemic nephropathy and that the latter is associated with the occurrence of urinary system tumours, a survey was made of ochratoxin A contamination of cereal samples from an area of Bulgaria where both endemic nephropathy and urinary system tumours are prevalent and from non‐endemic areas. In all, 130 samples of beans, maize and wheat flour were analysed. Ochratoxin A levels were 16.7% (25–27 μg/kg) in bean samples from the endemic area and 7.1% (25–50 μg/kg) in those from the control areas: in maize samples, the levels were 27.3% (25–35 μg/kg) and 9.0% (10–25 μg/kg), respectively.