Aflatoxins contamination of maize in Serbia: the impact of weather conditions in 2015

Abstract

In recent years climate changes recorded in temperate regions of Europe have led to aflatoxin (AF) contamination of maize. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the influence of weather conditions on levels of aflatoxin B (AFB1), aflatoxin B (AFB2), aflatoxin G (AFG1) and aflatoxin G (AFG2) in 180 maize samples collected from the main maize-growing regions (Western Bačka, North Banat, South Banat and Central Serbia) in Serbia after harvest in 2015. The concentrations of AFs were determined by a validated HPLC method with post-column derivatisation and fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD). The presence of AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2 was detected in 57.2%, 13.9%, 5.6% and 2.8% of maize samples in the concentration ranges of 1.3-88.8 µg kg, 0.60-2.8 µg kg, 1.8-28.5 µg kg and 2.1-7.5 µg kg respectively. The recorded smaller amount of precipitation and especially higher air temperatures during the summer of 2015 were favourable for AF production, which resulted in 32.2% and 21.1% of samples being unsuitable for human consumption, since AFB1 and the sum of AFs concentrations were above 5.0 and 10.0 µg kg respectively. Furthermore, the findings in this study indicate that the microclimate conditions in the investigated regions had a great influence on the contamination frequency of maize with AFs. The highest percentage of samples unsuitable for human consumption, considering both AFB1 and total AFs content were 72.5% and 51.5% respectively from Central Serbia, whilst the lowest percentages of 15.6% and 6.2% respectively were found in Western Bačka. These findings confirmed that maize should be continuously monitored in order to protect human and animal health from the harmful effects caused by AFs contamination.

The effect of storage temperature and water activity on aflatoxin B1 accumulation in hull‐less and hulled spelt grains

“…The described method with the respect to linearity, LOD, limit of quantitation (LOQ), recovery, repeatability and reproducibility was validated. 37 LOD and LOQ were 0.4 and 1.3 μg kg −1 for AFB 1 , respectively. Generally, the results of validation parameters were reliable and satisfactory (Table 1).…”

“…The chromatograms were analysed by Chemstation LC software (Agilent Technologies Inc.). The described method with the respect to linearity, LOD, limit of quantitation (LOQ), recovery, repeatability and reproducibility was validated . LOD and LOQ were 0.4 and 1.3 µg kg −1 for AFB 1 , respectively.…”

Impact of climate change on aflatoxin M1 contamination of raw milk with special focus on climate conditions in Serbia

“…A number of studies produced by Serbian government authorities indicate that the frequency of both droughts and extreme rainfall events has increased significantly in the region over the past decade . Therefore possible impacts of climate change on mycotoxin occurrence have been discussed in a number of publications in recent years . The authors unanimously conclude that a shift from ‘traditional’ occurrence areas to regions where mycotoxin occurrence was previously uncommon is to be expected due to climate change.…”

Towards a dietary-exposome assessment of chemicals in food: An update on the chronic health risks for the European consumer

“…During the changing climate, air and sea water temperatures and variability in rainfalls increase, and the salinity and nutrients in sea waters change. These factors are expected to shift the geographic distributions and incidence of the natural toxin-producing living organisms in Europe (Battilani et al 2012(Battilani et al , 2013(Battilani et al , 2016Jani c Hajnal et al 2017;Marvin 2012;Naustvoll et al 2012;Parikka et al 2012;Van der Fels-Klerx et al 2012a, 2012b. Generally, higher incidence and levels of mycotoxins are expected to occur but also lower occurrence may take place (Battilani et al 2012(Battilani et al , 2013Van der Fels-Klerx et al 2012a, 2012b.…”

“…The aflatoxin prevalence and levels are anticipated to increase in Europe, while their occurrence from the south expands to the central Europe (Battilani et al 2012(Battilani et al , 2013(Battilani et al , 2016. In the recent past, the highly aflatoxin-contaminated maize in the Balkan-area led to compromise the food safety over the food security, by permitting an exceedance of the legal limits (Jani c Hajnal et al 2017;Kos et al 2013;Krska et al 2016). In 2013, the high levels of Fusarium toxins in maize in the central Europe led to a request for a temporary increase of the EU MLs (EFSA 2014e).…”