Percorrer por autor "de Boevre, Marthe"
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- Towards safer edible insects: assessing contaminant bioaccumulation and depuration capacity in Tenebrio molitorPublication . Cardoso, Diogo N.; Alvito, Paula; de Boevre, Marthe; Silva, Ana Rita; Pinto, José; Rodrigues, Ana; Prodana, Marija; Silva, Patricia; Mostafaie, Amid; Loureiro, SusanaThe integration of insects into sustainable food and feed chains demands a robust evaluation of their capacity to accumulate and eliminate contaminants. Understanding these dynamics is fundamental to ensuring consumer safety and supporting the development of regulatory standards for insect-derived products. This study assessed the bioaccumulation and depuration kinetics of metal(loid)s (As, Cd, Pb) and mycotoxins (Aflatoxin B1, Ochratoxin A, Deoxynivalenol, and Zearalenone) in the yellow mealworm Tenebrio molitor, a species already authorized for human consumption in the EU. Larvae were reared on feed substrates artificially spiked at the maximum levels allowed for animal feed under EU legislation. The experimental design included 21 days of exposure followed by a 21-day elimination phase on uncontaminated substrate, to evaluate both uptake and depuration efficiency under realistic production conditions. Distinct toxicokinetic patterns were observed among metals. Arsenic displayed the highest accumulation potential, reaching internal concentrations of approximately 7 mg/kg dry weight (DW) at the end of exposure, with a progressive but incomplete decline during depuration. Cadmium accumulated steadily to ~2.5 mg/kg DW, exceeding the current feed limit, but was rapidly eliminated below regulatory thresholds within one day of clean feeding. Lead, in contrast, showed low assimilation and rapid clearance, remaining consistently below EU maximum levels. Mycotoxins and their metabolites were not detected above quantification limits in any treatment, confirming the species’ limited bioaccumulation potential for these compounds. Overall, the results highlight Tenebrio molitor’s high depuration capacity and resilience to transient contaminant exposure. These findings highlight the need to apply toxicokinetic principles in insect risk assessment to define effective depuration periods and ensure safe, circular production systems.
- Tracking Mycotoxin Exposure in Portugal: New Insights and Key DeterminantsPublication . Namorado, Sónia; Maris, Elias; Chen, A.; Pero-Gascon, Roger; de Boevre, Marthe; De Saeger, Sarah; Silva, Maria João; Alvito, Paula; .Human biomonitoring (HBM) is a vital tool for assessing exposure to environmental chemicals. Mycotoxins have been associated with various adverse health effects, including estrogenic, immunotoxic, nephrotoxic, and teratogenic outcomes. In this presentation an overview of two recent HBM studies on multiple mycotoxins exposure biomarkers conducted in Portugal will be given. The first study analyzed 37 mycotoxin biomarkers in urine samples from 94 adult participants (48.4 ± 15.2 years), as part of the National Food, Nutrition, and Physical Activity Survey (2015–2016). Six different mycotoxins -DON, ZEN, AOH, OTA, FB1, and CIT- was confirmed through the quantification of 12 urinary biomarkers in paired 24 h and first-morning urine samples. DON and its metabolites were among the most frequently detected biomarkers and AOH was identified for the first time in urine samples from a European population. Associations between urinary mycotoxin biomarkers and consumption of specific food items were also observed. More recently, a subset of 295 first-morning urine samples from adults (28–39 years) was collected between 2019-2020, as part of a cross-sectional study embedded within the Portuguese National Health Examination Survey (INSEF). These samples were analyzed using a newly optimized and validated LC-MS/MS method capable of detecting 40 mycotoxins and/or their metabolites in urine. DON and tenuazonic acid were the most frequently detected, with detection rates of 85% and 96%, respectively. Further investigations into key exposure determinants—including dietary habits, demographic factors, and geographical variations—are ongoing and will be presented. Altogether, these findings highlight the importance of continued surveillance and the integration of HBM into national food safety and public health strategies.