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Mycotoxins are secondary fungal metabolites expressing carcinogenicity, teratogenicity, immune toxicity, neurotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, reproductive and developmental toxicity in numerous species. They can be found in a variety of important agricultural products dependent on moisture content, water activity, relative air humidity, temperature, matrix composition, and the degree of physical damage. Research on mycotoxin occurrence in cereals as the main contamination source, is essential for developing preventative and management strategies that aim to protect human and animal health. In this study, the occurrence of major storage (aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and ochratoxin A (OTA)) and field mycotoxins (Fusarium mycotoxins deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEN), fumonisins (FUM), and T-2/HT-2 toxins (T2/HT2)) in most important Croatian crops, i.e., maize, wheat, barley, and oat (4, 080 samples) was investigated over 10 years (2010 - 2020). Contamination with carcinogenic AFB1, most concerning from the public health standpoint, was determined in 10% of samples during 2013, and is to be attributed to the interchange of extremely dry and extremely hot periods witnessed in 2012 during maize cultivation and to the inappropriate storage. Fusarium mycotoxins were frequently uncovered in different cereals throughout the study period, the positives spanning from 42% (for T2/HT2) to even 85% (for FUM). After heavy rains, such as in 2015, the occurrence had risen significantly (p < 0.05). Bottomline, Croatian cereals are mainly contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins, but weather extremes had been proven to enhance AFB1 contamination, too. Therefore, climate changes can not only aggravate mycotoxin contamination documented insofar, but also introduce novel mycotoxins into the region. Further research should identify mycotoxigenic mould growth enhancers and efficient measures to reduce contamination of cereal-containing foods and feeds. |
