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The performance of the QuEChERS extraction followed by the LC-MS/ MS analytical method was evaluated in terms of Alternaria mycotoxins recovery from the wheat. The alternariol (AOH), tentoxin (TEN) and alternariol monomethyl ether (AME) were analyzed using the ESI+ (electrospray positive ionization) by multiple reactions mon­itoring mode (MRM). In order to determine the recovery, the blank wheat samples were spiked at two spiking levels (0.01 and 0.1 mg/kg) in six replicates. The obtained average recoveries and precisions (expressed as the RSDr, %) were as follows: 107.6% (RSDr of 6.84%) for alternariol, 108.0% (RSDr of 6.78%) for tentoxin and 110.1% (RSDr of 6.50%) for alternariol monomethyl ether. The results of this study were in accordance with the Commission Decision 2002/657/EC and Commission Regulation (EC) No 401/2006.

The interest in tropane alkaloids (TA) as food contaminants is increasing. A sensitive and selective LC-MS/MS method was applied for the analysis of corn puff samples from the Serbian market. Only atropine was quantified in 22% of the samples. In case of scopolamine, although not quantified, it was detected in 22% of the samples. Whether the acute reference dose (ARfD) could be exceeded was checked on a case-by-case basis for the individual products under assessment. Due to their low body weight and relatively high snack consumption, preschool children were at the highest risk of TA exposure. Assuming that the average consumption is 50 g of corn puffs per day, the sample with the highest concentration of TAs (2.05 μg/kg, 1.58 μg/kg of atropine) could contribute with 32.0% to the ARfD, of which 24.7% owing to atropine. If the same amount of corn puffs is consumed by older age classes, corresponding exposure contributions to the ARfD would progressively decline, down to 8.4% for adult population. The study revealed no health risk from TAs exposure through the consumption of the corn puffs in Serbian population.

A reliable and easy method has been used for the multiple mycotoxins determination of AFs, DON, ZEA and FBs in maize samples. Liquid chromatography cou­pled mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used. Mycotoxins have been extracted from maize using a QuEChERS-based extraction procedure. All validation parameters were in accordance with Reg. (EC) No 401/2006. The analyses of eight maize seed samples showed the AFs, DON, ZEA and FBs contamination with the values below the state limit standards.

The analysis of citrinin is challenging because it needs to be detected in low concentrations in complex sample matrices. Before citrinin quantification, the data acquisition of LC-MS/MS must be performed, which includes the determination of ion monitoring reaction (SRM), finding fragmentation energies (Frag.) and collision cell energies (CE) for which the response of citrinin will be the highest for the given conditions. The best response of citrinin is obtained for Frag. of 66 V and CE of 17 and 29 V. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. TR31018]

The aim of this paper was to investigate deoxynivalenol (DON) occurrence in maize samples originating from two harvest seasons in Serbia. The key differences between harvest seasons were weather conditions, specifically the humidity. The samples were analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography with DAD detection, after clean-up on SPE columns. In samples from 2014, DON was found in 82 (100.0%) samples with the average content of 2.517 mg/kg (ranged from 0.368 to 11.343 mg/kg). Two samples exceeded maximum level permitted by EU regulations. However, analyzing larger number of samples (163) from 2015 harvest season, DON was present in 51 (31.3%) samples in significantly lower concentrations (average of 0.662 mg/kg, ranged from 0.106 to 2.628 mg/kg). None of the samples from 2015 exceeded maximum level permitted by EU regulations. The data on DON presence in Serbian maize were in relation to the different weather conditions that prevailed during the two harvest seasons. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. 172042]

Mycotoxins are highly toxic compounds produced by molds that commonly occur in cereal grains. These toxins can have adverse effects on human and animal health. Mycotoxin decontamination procedures can be divided into three different groups: chemical, biological and physical. Procedures from the first two groups are often regarded as unacceptable for lowering the mycotoxin level. A laboratory brush was developed for the purpose of physical cleaning of corn kernel. Three samples of commercially available corn kernels were subjected to the brushing procedure in order for the experimental study to be conducted. The mass of 100g of corn kernels was placed on motionless screen of the brush. A rotating part of the experimental device, the polypropylene bristle brush was set to high­er speed (higher than 800 rpm). During the corn brushing, dust and broken kernels were brushed out through the motionless screen. Corn samples were taken before and after the brushing procedure and they were analyzed for aflatoxin concentration by HPLC-UV RED. By comparing the control and brushed samples, it can be noticed that removal of fines caused the reduction in the level of mycotoxins in all three brushed samples.

A total of 45 samples of wheat from three different locations in Vojvodina were analyzed for the presence of zearalenone. Analytical methods based on clean-up by solid-phase extraction (SPE) columns and detection by liquid chromatography were used after validation. Limit of detection for ZEA in wheat was 18.6 μg/kg and the limit of quantification was 56.5 μg/kg. Recovery values ranged between 86% and 97%. The occurrence of ZEA in wheat was rather high with 53.3% of positive samples with the average value of 330 μg/kg. Incidences were found from 68 μg/kg to 1079 μg/kg. Contamination levels were above the established maximum limit for unprocessed cereals, other than maize, in as many as seventeen samples. These results were compared to the results of investigation of deoxynivalenol and fumonisin content, established in our previous work on the same samples. The results obtained were also compared to those of the neighboring countries where the relevant data existed and to the data of previous studies in our country. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. TR31081]

A reliable and easy method has been developed for the determination of aflatoxins B1 and G2 in maize samples. High performance liquid chromatography coupled with FLD (HPLC-FLD) with photochemical derivatization was used. Mycotoxins were extracted from maize using a QuEChERS-based extraction procedure. The optimized analytical conditions were evaluated in terms of recoveries, reproducibility, LOD, LOQ and linearity for aflatoxin B1 and aflatoxin G1 in maize. Extraction, chromatographic and detection conditions were optimized in order to increase sample sensitivity. The linearity was analyzed in the range of 0.4-20 μg/kg and the correlation coefficients (R2) were higher than 0.99 for aflatoxins B1 and G1. Blank samples were spiked at 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 μg/kg, and the average recovery for aflatoxin G1 was 96.96±1.72% and for aflatoxin B1 it was 86.80±1.24%. RSDs were lower than 25% for both mycotoxins. LOD for both aflatoxins was 0.5 μg/kg and LOQ was 1.0 μg/kg, respectively.

This paper deals with the contamination of our environment with thousands of both natural and man-made chemicals which affect the endocrine system of humans and animals. These so-called endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are thought to mimic or block the action of hormones and therefore disrupt sexual development in utero. EDCs are organochlorine pesticides, dioxin compounds, polychlorinated biphenyls, alkylpolyethoxylates, plastic additives and phytoestrogens (occurring naturally in foods: isoflavones coumenestans and zearalenone). The structure of zearalenone is similar to the structure of estrogens and it enables binding to the estrogenic receptors. DNA laddering on gel electrophoresis was present 12 h after dosing thus indicating a conclusion that there was apoptosis. Apoptosis is the principal mechanism contributing to germ cell depletion and testicular atrophy following zearalenone exposure.

Ochratoxin A is cancerogenic, teratogenetic, immunotoxic and nephrotoxic The mentioned order stresses the importance of this toxin concerning its harm to human health. The harmful effects of ochratoxin A include the effects at molecular level, such as DNA fragmentation, protein synthesis inhibition gluconeogenesis, lipid peroxidation, disorder of oxydative phosphorization in mitochondria, inhibition of blood coagulation and apoptosis. The presence of ochratoxin A in a great number of food samples, both of plant and animal origin, is the obvious risk to human health, which is confirmed by the high incidence of this toxin in samples of human serum and milk. It could be stated, with certainty, that the above - mentioned facts are the reason for which the EU has paid great attention to this mycotoxin in recent years. This paper deals with the results of the analysis of the animal feed component samples for the period 2000-2003 concerning the ochratoxin A content. The analysed feed components were taken from the farms with significant health problems of animals (not monitoring). The samples were analysed by chromatography on a thin layer and with a limited detection method for ochratoxin A of 40 ppb. The analysis was carried out on 108 maize samples, 11 barley samples, 21 wheat samples, 42 sunflower pellets samples and 47 soybean pellets samples (Table 1). The samples of sunflower pellets were contaminated in the greatest percentage, which indicates the inadequate storage of this feed component.