Abstract
Mycotoxins are products of moulds that frequently contaminate maize. In this study the presence of mycotoxins fumonisin B1 (FB1), fumonisin B2 (FB2), zearalenone (ZEA) and ochratoxin A (OTA) was determined in 49 maize grain samples collected in autumn 2002. The most frequent finding was that of FB1(100%), followed by ZEA (84%) and OTA (39%), while FB2 was found only in three samples. The co-occurrence of two and three mycotoxins was found in 55 and 37% of samples, respectively. The concentrations (mean ± SD) of FB1, ZEA and OTA in positive samples were 459.8 ± 310.7, 3.84 ± 6.68 and 1.47 ± 0.38 µg kg−1, respectively, and the concentrations of FB2 in three positive samples were 68.4, 109.2 and 3084.0 µg kg−1. Although such low concentrations of mycotoxins are not a significant source of exposure in countries with a European diet, a few samples with extreme values indicate that thorough control is needed.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
