Assessment of Deoxynivalenol in Wheat, Corn and Its Products and Estimation of Dietary Intake

Abstract

The main goal of the present research was to explore the seasonal variation of deoxynivalenol (DON) in wheat, corn, and their products, collected during 2018–2019. Samples of 449 of wheat and products and 270 samples of corn and their products were examined using reverse-phase liquid chromatography with a UV detector. The findings of the present work showed that 104 (44.8%) samples of wheat and products from the summer season, and 91 (41.9%) samples from winter season were contaminated with DON (concentration limit of detections (LOD) to 2145 µg/kg and LOD to 2050 µg/kg), from summer and winter seasons, respectively. In corn and products, 87 (61.2%) samples from summer and 57 (44.5%) samples from winter season were polluted with DON with levels ranging from LOD to 2967 µg/kg and LOD to 2490 µg/kg, from the summer and winter season, respectively. The highest dietary intake of DON was determined in wheat flour 8.84 µg/kg body weight/day from the summer season, and 7.21 µg/kg body weight/day from the winter season. The findings of the work argued the need to implement stringent guidelines and create awareness among farmers, stakeholders, and traders of the harmful effect of DON. It is mostly observed that cereal crops are transported and stockpiled in jute bags, which may absorb moisture from the environment and produce favorable conditions for fungal growth. Therefore, these crops must store in polyethylene bags during transportation and storage, and moisture should be controlled. It is highly desirable to use those varieties that are more resistant to fungi attack. Humidity and moisture levels need to be controlled during storage and transportation.

Patulin Contamination of Citrus Fruits from Punjab and Northern Pakistan and Estimation of Associated Dietary Intake

“…Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced during pre- and postharvest conditions. Mycotoxins are highly diversified, with about 450 different structural categories already identified and classified [ 7 , 8 , 9 ]. The most important mycotoxins found as food contaminants include aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, fumonisins, zearalenone, trichothecenes, and patulin [ 10 ].…”

Fate of Deoxynivalenol in Different Corn Cultivars: From Grains to Bread

“…However, the LOD and LOQ were 25 and 50 µg/kg, respectively. In another study [10], good recoveries of DON were observed in wheat and corn products with levels ranged from 80.8 to 92.6%, RSD ranged from 9 to 27%. However, the LOD and LOQ values were slightly higher, i.e., 50 and 100 µg/kg, respectively, as compared to the present study.…”

“…The trichothecenes family's an important class and closely linked to vomitoxin is deoxynivalenol (DON) mycotoxin, and it is mainly produced by Fusarium species, especially F. graminearum and F. culmorum, [6][7][8][9][10]. The DON is also known to produce similar forms of other toxins, recognized as masked mycotoxins, which usually remain undetected during the analytical process [11].…”

Biomonitoring of Aflatoxin B1 and Deoxynivalenol in a Rural Pakistan Population Using Ultra-Sensitive LC-MS/MS Method

“…Aspergillus fungi would be able to produce AFB 1 within this temperature range (maximum mycotoxin production temperature 40 • C), however the temperature is not suitable for the growth of Fusarium fungi (maximum mycotoxin production temperature 30 • C), which produces DON [46,47]. High levels of DON have been detected in wheat and corn products from the same studied region in a recent study [18]. More than 40% of samples were tested and found to be contaminated by DON with an average contamination level of 1000 µg/kg, which is close to the EU regulatory limit of 1250 µg/kg.…”

“…In Pakistan, evidence of DON contamination in food has been reported, but data are limited [15][16][17]. A recent study showed high levels of DON in 449 wheat and 270 corn samples collected from the studied area (more than 40% with mean level around 1000 µg/kg) [18].…”