Exposure status and health risk assessment of deoxynivalenol from cereals in Chinese population in different regions

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the dietary exposure to deoxynivalenol (DON) from cereals and health risk in Chinese residents in different regions. Methods: The data of DON concentration in cereals was derived from the national food safety risk surveillance from 2010 to 2017, with 15 422 samples of cereals included. China was roughly divided into north part and south part, along with the Qinling Mountains-Huaihe River line. Sample size of each type of cereals, i.e. wheat flour, maize meal, oats and rice was 4 948, 696, 626, 1 006 in the north, while 5 648, 1 068, 266, 1 164 in the south. The data of cereals consumption was derived from China National Nutrition and Health Survey in 2002 and 68 335 respondents aged 3 and above, with 34 234 from the north and 34 101 from the south, were included. Simple distribution model was applied for calculation and comparison of the dietary exposure to DON from cereals in northern and southern residents based on individual consumption of cereals, body weight and average DON concentration in each type of cereals. Results: Average DON concentration in wheat flour, maize meal, oats, and rice sampled in northern China were 235.4, 121.6, 7.0 and 4.6 μg/kg, respectively, while 239.1, 124.3, 29.0 and 15.5 μg/kg in cereals sampled in southern China. The average DON exposure from cereals in surveyed Chinese inhabitants was 0.78 μg/(kg·d). Among them, the DON exposure of northern residents was higher than that of southern residents (P<0.001), and the average exposures were 1.15 and 0.41 μg/(kg·d), respectively. A total of 49.2% of northern residents exceeded provisional maximum tolerable daily intake for DON exposure from cereals, which was much higher than that of southern residents (8.6%) (P<0.001). Wheat-based food products were the main source of DON exposure, with a contribution rate of 96.5% in the north and 68.3% in the south. Average DON exposure was the highest in the 3-6 years [2.12 μg/(kg·d) for children in north and 0.73 μg/(kg·d) in south]. Conclusion: Exposure to DON from cereals in northern residents of China was considerably high, with a certain health risk. Northern children aged 3 to 6 exposed even more DON and needed significant attention.