Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites of filamentous fungi and represent one of the most common groups of food contaminants with low molecular weight. These toxins are considered common and can affect the food chain at various stages of production, harvesting, storage and processing. Zearalenone is one of over 400 detected mycotoxins and produced by fungi of the genus Fusarium; it mainly has estrogenic effects on various organisms. Contaminated products can lead to huge economic losses and pose risks to animals and humans. In this review, we systemize information on zearalenone and its major metabolites.

Mycotoxins are metabolites of filamentous fungi. Ochratoxin A(OTA) is one of the mycotoxins most commonly isolated from the environment. It is regularly detected in cereals, coffee, cocoa, wine, beer, spices and milk, but also occur in the other foodstuffs. Accordingly, OTA is also found in human body fluids: the milk of breastfeeding women, urine, and blood. An understanding of the factors that determine human exposure to OTA are important. This work summarizes studies that describe the occurrence of OTA in human body fluids in the hope of identifying factors of populations that are associated with increased risk of ochratoxin A exposure.