Deoxynivalenol transport across the human placental barrier

► Deoxynivalenol (DON) is the most commonly detected mycotoxin contaminant of cereal crops and cereal based food products. ► DON causes adverse health effects in animals, passes through to the foetus and causes foetal abnormalities in animals. ► DON cross BeWo b30 monolayer barrier and human placenta barrier. Deoxynivalenol (DON) is the most commonly detected mycotoxin contaminant of cereal crops and cereal based food products in temperate regions of the world. DON causes adverse health effects in animals, passes through to the foetus and causes foetal abnormalities in animals. Biomonitoring for DON has revealed frequent human exposure. This study reports on DON transfer across the human placenta. Firstly, in vitro studies with the BeWo b30 clone were used as a rapid screening model showing transfer of DON through a stable confluent cell monolayer. Five term placentas were then used to study DON transfer with the ex vivo dual perfusion model. The concentration of DON on the foetal side after 4h was about 21% of that on the maternal side at t=0. These results support the data from the BeWo monolayer model in respect to the transport rate of DON, and are consistent with our hypothesis of foetal exposure to DON during pregnancy.