Contents ofFusariumtoxins in Finnish and imported grains and feeds

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the levels of trichothecenes in representative samples of Finnish and imported cereals and feeds from the 1987 and 1988 crops. Trichothecene concentrations were determined in samples as trimethylsilylether derivatives by a gas chromatograph equipped with a mass selective detector (GC-MSD) using selected ion monitoring (SIM) which proved to be a reliable and sufficiently sensitive technique. Representative samples of Finnish and imported oats, wheat, barley, rye, maize gluten, soy granules, rapeseed, turnip rapeseed, fish meal, poultry feed and pig feed were analysed employing 19-nortestosterone as an internal standard. Almost all grain and feed samples contained deoxynivalenol (DON) from 7 to 300 micrograms/kg and smaller amounts (13-120 micrograms/kg) of 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3-AcDON). The most toxic trichothecenes, T-2, HT-2 toxins and nivalenol (NIV) and also zeralenone (ZEN) were found at low concentrations in some samples. Six lots of oats containing 1.3-2.6 mg/kg of DON and 0.2-0.6 mg/kg of 3-AcDON were found in the Finnish grain samples. Silo samples of almost all imported grains contained DON but at levels below 50 micrograms/kg. Imported grains contained no other trichothecenes. DON, 3-AcDON and ZEN were found in imported feedstuffs at low concentrations.

Contents of trichothecenes in oats during official variety, organic cultivation and nitrogen fertilization trials in Finland

“…100 µ l N-trimethylsilylimidazole (TMSI) reagent was added to the residue evaporated to dryness. DON, DAS, 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3-AcDON), FX, NIV, T-2 and HT-2 toxins and 19-nortestosterone (the internal standard) were identified and quantified as trimethylsilylether derivatives, employing GC-MS (Rizzo et al 1986, Hietaniemi and Kumpulainen 1991, Saastamoinen and Saloniemi 1997.…”

“…Natural toxins, such as mycotoxins, have emerged as a significant factor affecting the safety image of cereal grains as a raw material for the food and feed industry. Many previous studies in Finland (Karppanen et al 1985, Hietaniemi and Kumpulainen 1991, 1993, Rizzo 1993) and other European countries (Tanaka et al 1988, Langseth et al 1989, Müller and Schwadorf 1993, Pettersson et al 1995, Widestrand 2001, Döll et al 2002, Schollenberger et al 2002 as well as globally (Tanaka et al 1988, Shephard et al 1996, Groves et al 1999, Janardhana et al 1999, Salay and Mercadante 2002 have shown that there is reason to focus on Fusarium toxins and their appearance. A planned European Union directive will specify the maximum limits for trichothecenes such as 4-deoxynivalenol (DON), T-2 toxin and HT-2 toxin and for zearalenone (ZEN) and fumonisins.…”

“…On the other hand, fumonisins cause more extensive problems in the Southern Hemisphere than in the Northern (Shephard et al 1996). The most frequently isolated Fusarium species are F. graminearum, F. culmorum, F. moniliforme, F. poae, F. equiseti and F. proliferatum (Ylimäki et al 1979, Marasas et al 1984, Hietaniemi and Kumpulainen 1991, Eriksen and Alexander 1998, Creppy 2002.…”

“…Increased attention has been focused on mycotoxins in Finland, especially the late 1980s, Hietaniemi and Kumpulainen (1991) showed that almost all grain and feed samples studied in Finland during 1987Finland during -1988 contained from 7 to 300 µ g kg -1 of DON and smaller amounts (13-120 µ g kg -1 ) of 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol. The most toxic trichothecenes, T-2-and HT-2 toxin, as well as NIV and ZEN, were found at low concentrations in some samples.…”

“…DON is the most frequently found contaminant of oats, barley, wheat and corn throughout the world (Scott 1989, WHO 1993, 2001). In addition to DON, T-2 toxin, HT-2 toxin and ZEN frequently occur in cereal crops cultivated in northern temperate regions (Hietaniemi and Kumpulainen 1991, Pettersson et al 1995, Langseth et al 1999, Thuvander et al 2001, Eskola 2002, Lígia Martins and Martins 2002. On the other hand, fumonisins cause more extensive problems in the Southern Hemisphere than in the Northern (Shephard et al 1996).…”