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Aflatoxin (AF) contamination in maize is of worldwide importance. Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus are the principal fungi responsible for AF production. Based on the current literature, AFs are not considered a problem in wheat and rice at harvest and no data were found on aspergilliwheat/rice interactions in the field. Data on the effects influencing the development of A. flavus and A. parasiticus on maize and maize kernel at harvest were collected; however data on A. parasiticus and AFB 2 -G 1 -G 2 were not sufficient for further use in predictive modelling. Thus, a model was developed to predict the risk of AFB 1 contamination, due to A. flavus, in maize at harvest and further adapted to wheat and rice as host crops. The Joint Research Centre of the EC provided a database with mean daily temperatures during emergence, flowering and harvesting of maize, wheat and rice. Meteorological data (temperature, relative humidity and rain) obtained from the LARS weather generator, were used as input for the modelling of crop phenology and A. flavus behaviour. The output was designed at a 50 x 50 km scale over the European territory and generated over 100 years, in three different climate scenarios (present and A2 and B2 storylines, or + 2 °C and + 5 °C scenarios, proposed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change). Predictions showed a reduction in season length and an advance in flowering and harvest dates leading to an enlargement of the crop growing areas towards north EU, mainly for maize and rice, because earlier ripening could occur in these areas. The risk of A. flavus contamination was expected to increase in maize, both in the + 2 °C and + 5 °C scenarios, to be very low in wheat and to be absent in rice. Results were discussed and recommendations were made on data collection and prevention measures on AF risks.

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is one of the most commonly occurring trichothecenes, produced mainly by Fusarium graminearum. The project aimed to provide data on levels of total DON and de-epoxy deoxynivalenol (DOM-1) in human urine samples collected from different population groups (children, adolescents, adults, elderly, vegetarians, pregnant women) in Italy, Norway and the United Kingdom (UK) as analysed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Morning urine samples were collected over two consecutive days from 635 volunteers and associated food consumption was recorded on the same days. Levels of DON did not significantly differ between day 1 and day 2 urine samples. DON was detected in 99 %, 93 % and 76 % of the urine samples from Norway, UK and Italy, respectively. The median total DON concentrations were similar between population groups in Italy and Norway, but were approximately 3-fold higher in the sampled UK population. In Norway and the UK, levels of DON were roughly 2.5-fold higher in children compared with adults. For DOM-1, 12 % of Norwegian and 1.5 % of Italian urine samples were positive, but DOM-1 was not detected in any sample from the UK. This difference may be explained by differences across analytical sites in the limit of quantification (LoQ). Associations between food consumption and urinary DON levels were assessed by ordered logistic regression models. In Italy, intakes of pasta and pasta-like products were significantly associated with higher levels of total DON after correction for creatinine on both days. In Norway, intakes of breakfast cereals and snacks (day 1) and bread and bread-like foods (day 1 and 2) were significantly associated with a higher level of total DON adjusted for creatinine. In the UK, biscuit intakes on day 1 were significantly associated with a higher level of the toxin. © Istituto Superiore di Sanità -ISS -Italy, 2015

Mycotoxins are toxic compounds mainly produced by fungi of the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium and Fusarium. They are present, often as mixtures, in many feed and food commodities including cereals, fruits and vegetables. Their ubiquitous presence represents a major challenge to the health and well being of humans and animals. Hundreds of compounds are listed as possible mycotoxins occurring in raw and processed materials destined for human food and animal feed. In this study, mycotoxins of major toxicological relevance to humans and target animal species were investigated in a range of crops of interest (and their derived products). Extensive Literature Searches (ELSs) were undertaken for data collection on: (i) ecology and interaction with host plants of mycotoxin producing fungi, mycotoxin production, recent developments in mitigation actions of mycotoxins in crop chains (maize, small grains, rice, sorghum, grapes, spices and nuts), (ii) analytical methods for native, modified and co-occurring mycotoxins (iii) toxicity, toxicokinetics, toxicodynamics and biomarkers relevant to humans and animals (poultry, suidae (pig, wild boar), bovidae (sheep, goat, cow, buffalo), rodents (rats, mice) and others (horses, dogs), (iv) modelling approaches and key reference values for exposure, hazard and risk modelling. Comprehensive databases were created using EFSA templates and were stored in the MYCHIF platform. A range of approaches were implemented to explore the modelling of external and internal exposure as well as dose-response of mycotoxins in chicken and pigs. In vitro toxicokinetic and in vivo toxicity databases were exploited, both for single compounds and mixtures. However, large data gaps were identified particularly with regards to absence of common statistical and study designs within the literature and constitute an obstacle for the harmonisation of internal exposure and dose-response modelling. Finally, risk characterisation was also performed for humans as well as for two animal species (i.e. pigs and chicken) using available tools for the modelling of internal dose and a component-based approach for selected mycotoxins mixtures.© European Food Safety Authority, 2020 MYCHIF www.efsa.europa.eu/publications 2 EFSA Supporting publication 2020: EN-1757