Occurrence and Dietary Exposure Assessment to Enniatin B through Consumption of Cereal-Based Products in Spain and the Catalonia Region

Abstract

Enniatin B (ENNB) is a mycotoxin produced by moulds from the Fusarium genera and its toxic effects are still not fully elucidated, hence a safe reference exposure value has not been established yet. ENNB is the most prevalent emerging mycotoxin and is widely found in cereal-based products, nevertheless, there are no comprehensive exposure assessment studies. For that reason, the aim of this study was to characterise the occurrence of ENNB and estimate the exposure of the Spanish and Catalan populations. A total of 347 cereal-based products were collected in 2019 and were analysed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Consumption data were obtained from the national food consumption surveys (ENALIA) and a regional survey conducted in Catalonia. The global exposure was estimated using deterministic and probabilistic methods. The results showed a high occurrence of close to 100% in all foodstuffs, with a range from 6 to 269 µg/kg, and a strong correlation with the levels of deoxynivalenol. Children aged one–nine years were the most exposed, showing mean estimates in the range 308–324 ng/kg bw/day and 95th percentiles 697–781 ng/kg bw/day. This study stresses the need for further toxicological data to establish reference doses and conclude formal risk assessment, accounting for the co-occurrence with deoxynivalenol.

PI3K/Akt/FoxO Pathway Mediates Antagonistic Toxicity in HepG2 Cells Coexposed to Deoxynivalenol and Enniatins

“…or indirectly through consumption of animal-derived products (milk, 18 from Spain showed a strong positive correlation between the detection levels of ENB and DON (r 2 = 0.627, p < 0.0001). 17 Ninety-one percent of Italian durum wheat samples were contaminated with multiple mycotoxins, with the highest detection rate of ENB (78%, 23−1826 ng/g) and the highest content of DON (16%, 48−2267 ng/g). 16 Another survey showed that the co-detection rates of DON with ENA, ENA 1 , ENB, and ENB 1 in 524 pig feed samples collected globally were 58%, 89%, 93%, and 93%, respectively.…”

“…or indirectly through consumption of animal-derived products (milk, edible fish, etc.). A survey of 347 cereal products from Spain showed a strong positive correlation between the detection levels of ENB and DON ( r 2 = 0.627, p < 0.0001) . Ninety-one percent of Italian durum wheat samples were contaminated with multiple mycotoxins, with the highest detection rate of ENB (78%, 23–1826 ng/g) and the highest content of DON (16%, 48–2267 ng/g) .…”

“…13 ENNs, which also belong to Fusarium mycotoxins, 14 commonly co-occur with DON in the environment and are harmful to water, soil, and air. Humans can be exposed to these mycotoxins directly through ingestion of plant crops (corn, 15 wheat, 16 grain products, 17 etc.) or indirectly through consumption of animal-derived products (milk, 18 from Spain showed a strong positive correlation between the detection levels of ENB and DON (r 2 = 0.627, p < 0.0001).…”