1. Simultaneous LC–MS/MS determination of aflatoxin M1, ochratoxin A, deoxynivalenol, de-epoxydeoxynivalenol, α and β-zearalenols and fumonisin B1 in urine as a multi-biomarker method to assess exposure to mycotoxins
- Author
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Lucia Gambacorta, Veronica M.T. Lattanzio, Michele Solfrizzo, Stephen K. Powers, and Angelo Visconti
- Subjects
Adult ,Male ,Ochratoxin A ,Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ,Aflatoxin ,Analyte ,Swine ,Urine ,Fumonisins ,Sensitivity and Specificity ,01 natural sciences ,Biochemistry ,Analytical Chemistry ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,0404 agricultural biotechnology ,Aflatoxins ,Tandem Mass Spectrometry ,Animals ,Humans ,Toxicokinetics ,Mycotoxin ,Zearalenone ,Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ,Aged ,Glucuronidase ,Aged, 80 and over ,Chromatography, Reverse-Phase ,Fumonisin B1 ,Chromatography ,010401 analytical chemistry ,Mycotoxicosis ,food and beverages ,04 agricultural and veterinary sciences ,Middle Aged ,Mycotoxins ,Ochratoxins ,040401 food science ,0104 chemical sciences ,chemistry ,Zeranol ,Female ,Trichothecenes ,Biomarkers - Abstract
Humans and animals can be simultaneously exposed through the diet to different mycotoxins, including aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, and fumonisins, which are the most important. Evaluation of the frequency and levels of human and animal exposure to these mycotoxins can be performed by measuring the levels of the relevant biomarkers in urine. Available data on the toxicokinetics of these mycotoxins in animals suggest that aflatoxin M(1) (AFM(1)), ochratoxin A (OTA), deoxynivalenol (DON)/de-epoxydeoxynivalenol (DOM-1), alpha-zearalenol (α-ZOL)/beta-zearalenol (β-ZOL), and fumonisin B(1) (FB(1)) can be used as urinary biomarkers. A liquid chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometric method has been developed for simultaneous determination of these mycotoxin biomarkers in human or animal urine. Urine samples were purified and concentrated by a double cleanup approach, using a multitoxin immunoaffinity column and a reversed-phase SPE Oasis HLB column. Separation of the biomarkers was performed by reversed-phase chromatography using a multi-step linear methanol-water gradient containing 0.5% acetic acid as mobile phase. Detection and quantification of the biomarkers were performed by triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS). The clean-up conditions were optimised to obtain maximum analyte recovery and high sensitivity. Recovery from spiked samples was performed at four levels in the range 0.03-12 ng mL(-1), using matrix-matched calibration curves for quantification. Mean recoveries of the biomarkers tested ranged from 62 to 96% with relative standard deviations of 3-20%. Enzymatic digestion with β-glucuronidase/sulfatase resulted in increased concentrations of the biomarkers, in both human and pig urine, in most samples containing measurable concentrations of DON, DOM-1, OTA, α-ZOL, or β-ZOL. A highly variable increase was observed between individuals. Co-occurrence of OTA and DON in human urine is reported herein for the first time.
- Published
- 2011