Improved methods for biomarker analysis of the big five mycotoxins enables reliable exposure characterization in a population of childbearing age women in Rwanda.

Of the five agriculturally important mycotoxins, AFB1, FB1, DON, ZEA and OTA, a well-characterized biomarker of exposure in blood is only available for aflatoxin. Working with a population of 139 women of childbearing age in Rwanda, we undertook a comprehensive assessment of their dietary mycotoxin exposure. Using high-resolution LC-MS/MS with stable isotope dilution analysis, the albumin-aflatoxin adduct was quantitated in plasma. Similarly, AFM1, AFB1, AFG1, FB1 and B2, OTA, zearalenone, α-zearalenol, deoxynivalenol, deoxynivalenol-15-glucuronide and deoxynivalenol-3-glucuronide were quantitated in urine. AFB1-Lys was detected in plasma from 81% of the women, indicative of exposures 1-2 orders of magnitude above current guidance. Zearalenone and/or α-zearalenol were detected in the urine of 61% of the women, the majority of whom had estimated exposures 2-5 times the PMTDI, with one third more than an order of magnitude above. Urinary deoxynivalenol or the two glucuronide conjugates were found in 77% of the participants. Of these, 60% were below the PMTDI, 28% were twice and 12% were >10x the PMTDI. Fumonisin B1 (30%) and ochratoxin A (71%) were also detected in urine. Exposures observed in these Rwandan women raise serious food safety concerns and highlight the need for authorities to help manage multiple mycotoxins in their diet.