Determination of multiple mycotoxins in Qatari population serum samples by LC-MS/MS

Abstract

Human exposure to mycotoxins is almost inevitable as mycotoxins are naturally occurring contaminants of large portion of food and feed. Depending on the type of mycotoxins, inter-individual mycotoxin adsorption, bioaccumulation, distribution, metabolism and excretion, can cause serious adverse health effects. Therefore, continuous biomonitoring studies of population exposure to mycotoxins are needed. Here we describe a multi-analyte approach for the detection and quantification of 20 mycotoxins in human serum using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray/tandem mass spectrometry operated in targeted multiple reaction monitoring mode. The validated method was used to assess occurrence of mycotoxins in serum samples of 46 residents of Qatar. Mycotoxins that were detected with high incidence were HT-2 toxin (13.0%), sterigmatocystin (10.9%) and 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (6.5%). Also, co-exposure to several mycotoxins was noticed in the analysed samples. Our results show that strict food quality control is needed to remove mycotoxin contaminated food from the market in order to minimise human exposure to mycotoxins.

Analysis of Multiple Mycotoxins in the Qatari Population and Their Relation to Markers of Oxidative Stress

“…In addition, studies have shown that coexposure to multiple mycotoxins could seriously alter health even if the mycotoxins are present at low concentration [ 14 ]. Recently, we reported a small scale biomonitoring study in Qatar, analyzing the serum samples of only 46 volunteers [ 5 ]. That was the first human biomonitoring study conducted in Qatar, and it included both Qatari and non-Qatari volunteers.…”

“…Serum samples were prepared as described before [ 5 ]. Briefly, serum samples were spiked with ISTD working solution and incubated at room temperature for 30 min, followed by protein precipitation with acetonitrile/water/acetic acid (80/19/1, v / v / v ) for 30 min.…”

“…The multimycotoxin MRM UPLC–MS/MS analyses of serum samples was performed on a Waters Xevo TQ-S triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (Waters Corp, Wilmslow, UK) coupled with Waters Acquity UPLC and controlled by Masslynx software (version 4.1). The method used vas fully validated according to the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) guidelines for the validation and verification of quantitative and qualitative test methods and reported before [ 5 ]. Briefly, Acquity UPLC BEH C18 2.1 × 100 mm, 1.7 μm particles column (Waters, Milford, MA, USA) kept at 40 °C was used for chromatographic separation with a mobile phase composed of water with 0.1% formic acid (A) and acetonitrile with 0.1% formic acid (B).…”

“…Electrospray ionization (ESI) source was used to introduce the eluent to the mass spectrometer. The appropriate MRM transitions, polarity mode and collision energy (CE) optimized for each compound were used as reported before [ 5 ].…”

“…Thus, the continuous monitoring and risk assessment of human mycotoxin exposure is crucial. Recently, we have reported the first mycotoxin biomonitoring in Qatar [ 5 ]. Although the study included a small number of subjects and looked only into presence of mycotoxins in serum samples, it was evident that more than 35% of residents are at risk of mycotoxin exposure.…”