Co-contamination of mycotoxins in corn harvested in Haimen, a high risk area of primary liver cancer in China

Abstract

Natural occurrences of aflatoxin B₁, fumonisins and trichothecenes were investigated in 80 corn samples harvested in the low and high risk of primary liver cancer, Penlai (Sandong) and Haimen (Jiangsu), respectively, in China in1993. In Haimen area, the positives were 37 (average levels of 24.0 ppb), 37 (average levels of 5.11 ppm), 25 (average levels of 2.02 ppm), 25 (average levels of 1.12 ppm) and 40 (average levels of 0.89 ppm) for aflatoxin B₁, fumonisins B₁, B₂, B₃ and deoxynivalenol, respectively. In Penlai area, 12, 2, and 9 out of 13 kernel samples were positive for aflatoxin B₁, fumonisin B₁ and deoxynivalenol, respectively. However, no fumonisin B₂ and B₃ were found in these Penlai's samples. As for other trichothecenes, nivalenol was detected in only one sample from Haimen, but no T-2 toxin was found in all corn samples in this investigation. These results indicate that co-contamination of aflatoxin B₁, fumonisins and deoxynivalenol is popular in Chinese corn. Furthermore, the positive rate for natural occurrence of combinated aflatoxin B₁ and fumonisins in Haimen was superior to those in Penlai. These results suggest that tumor risk factor in high frequency area of primary liver cancer in China may be associated with co-contamination of aflatoxin B₁ and fumonisins.