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Fumonisin B1 (FB1) and B2 (FB2) are mycotoxins produced by Fusarium verticillioides and F. proliferatum and common contaminants of cereal crops. The objectives of this study were to (1) study the occurrence of fumonisins in Catalonia (north-eastern region of Spain) and (2) assess the exposure of the Catalonian population to these mycotoxins. Contamination data was provided by a wide survey where 928 individual samples were pooled to analyse 370 composite samples. Fumonisins were extracted and purified using immunoaffinity columns and determined by HPLC with fluorescence detection. The raw consumption data came from a nutritional study specifically designed to assess the dietary intake of the main foodstuffs related to fumonisin contamination for all population age groups. In addition, two specific groups were selected with respect to maize consumption: immigrants and celiac sufferers. Contamination and consumption data were combined by simulation using an essentially parametric–parametric (P-P) method. The P-P method draws sampling values from distribution functions fitted to consumption and contamination datasets. Moreover, to quantify the accuracy and reliability of the statistical estimates, we built related confidence intervals using a Pseudo-Parametric bootstrap method. The results of this study show that fumonisins are commonly found in some commodities on the Catalonian market, such as beer, corn snacks and ethnic foods; however, the values were well below the permitted maximum EU levels. The most exposed group were infants followed by immigrants but, in all cases, they were below the TDI of 2 µg/kg bw/day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: HT-2 toxin (HT2) and T-2 toxin (T2) are mycotoxins produced in several cereals by species of Fusarium. The aim of the present study was to assess the exposure of Catalonian population to the combined mycotoxins T2 and HT2. Three different approaches were considered to handle the left censored data: (1) a substitution method, (2) a parametric method using the maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) and (3) a non-parametric method using the Kaplan–Meier (KM) estimator. Raw contamination data was provided by a large survey conducted in this region, in addition to the raw consumption data from a nutritional study specifically designed to assess the dietary intake of the main foodstuffs related to T2 and HT2 contamination for all population age groups. Contamination and consumption data were combined by simulation using a stochastic method. Accuracy and reliability of the statistic estimates were assessed building the related confidence intervals using a pseudo-parametric bootstrap method. Considering the results from the present study, the most exposed group population to the toxin T2 and HT2 should be expected to be the children. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The main objective of this study was to assess the exposure of Catalonian (Spain) population to AFs. Thus, two sub-objectives were considered: (1) to assess the occurrence of AFs in food marketed in Catalonia, and (2) to assess the consumption of those foods susceptible to AFs contamination by Catalonian population. AFs were analysed in a total of 603 samples considering special commodities as free-gluten, ethnic or baby foods. Analytical method consisted of an extraction and clean-up of aflatoxins step using immunoaffinity columns, and determination by HPLC with post-column photochemical derivatization and fluorescence detection. Food dietary intake was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire, administered to 1387 individuals by trained interviewers. Contamination and consumption raw datasets were combined by means of a direct method and a stochastic method, building the pseudo-parametric bootstrap confidence intervals of the main outputs. Margins of exposure (MoE) and cancer incidence were estimated for the different collectives. The highest percentages of positive samples were found in red pepper, pistachios and peanuts. Considering our results, the most exposed group was the celiac sufferer collective followed by the adolescents; however health concern should not be expected in the population groups. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The most important trichothecenes are HT-2 toxin (HT2) and T-2 toxin (T2) from type A and deoxynivalenol (DON) from type B. Thus, the aim of the current study was to assess the occurrence of these trichothecenes in the Catalonian market. 479 food samples were taken from the most susceptible to trichothecenes contamination and most commonly consumed in Catalonia commodities. DON, T2 and HT2 toxin were determined in breakfast cereals, snacks and pasta samples following extraction, clean-up, derivatization and finally analysis by GC–ECD. Moreover, these mycotoxins were determined in sliced bread, sweet corn and beer by LC–DAD. Our results showed that DON was the main trichothecene present in the cereal-based food from Catalonian market with percentages of positive samples ranging from 1.4 to 100.0%. Despite the high incidence of DON, only five samples were above EU limits. Concerning HT2 toxin, it was present in a low percentage of samples of sliced bread (15.3%), wheat flakes (14.8%), pasta (10.0%), corn snacks (8.5%), sweet corn (6.9%) and corn flakes (6.2%), while the T2 toxin only was quantified in 5 samples out of the total 479. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]