Martins, CarlaDe Boevre, MartheDe Saeger, SarahNunes, CarlaTorres, DuarteGoios, A.Lopes, CarlaAssunção, RicardoAlvito, PaulaVidal, A.2020-06-072020-06-072019-10http://hdl.handle.net/10400.18/6957Mycotoxins constitute a relevant group of food contaminants with associated health outcomes such as estrogenic, immunotoxic, nephrotoxic and teratogenic effects. Although scarce data are available in Portugal, human biomonitoring (HBM) studies have been globally developed to assess the exposure to mycotoxins at individual level. This study aimed to present data for mycotoxins’ urinary biomarkers within a human biomonitoring study developed to assess the exposure of the Portuguese population, and to characterize the risk associated to the exposure. In the scope of the National Food, Nutrition, and Physical Activity Survey of the Portuguese General Population (2015-2016), 24h-urine samples from 94 participants were analyzed by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for the simultaneous determination of 37 mycotoxins’ urinary biomarkers. Data obtained were used to estimate the probable daily intake as well as the risk characterization applying multiple imputation, reverse dosimetry and hazard quotient approaches. Results revealed the exposure of Portuguese population to zearalenone, deoxynivalenol, ochratoxin A, alternariol, citrinin and fumonisin B1. Risk characterization data revealed a potential concern to some reported mycotoxins since the reference intake values were exceeded by some of the considered participants. The use of data at individual level, the collection of 24h urine samples, the performance of analytical method and the use of multiple imputation approach were identified as the main strengths of this study. The limitations identified were related with the use of excretion data obtained within animal studies and the absence of health based guidance values for urinary biomarkers that would allow a direct comparison. The present study generated, for the first time and within a HBM study, reliable data on internal exposure to multiple mycotoxins at individual level for the Portuguese population. These data contributes for supporting risk managers in the establishment of preventive policy measures to ensure public health protection.engMycotoxinsHuman BiomonitoringPortugalSegurança AlimentarToxicologiaAvaliação de RiscoSaúde Humanaconference object