Simultaneous determination of type A,B and D trichothecenes and their occurrence in cereals and cereal products

A sensitive LC–MS/MS method for the simultaneous determination of type A, B and D trichothecenes in cereals is presented. The limits of detection ranged between 0.1 and 0.7 µg kg^?1 for all analytes. The method was applied to 289 representatively drawn samples of wheat, rye and oat products. Ninety-four percent of the wheat samples (n = 130), 95% of the rye samples (n = 61) and 100% of the oat samples (n = 98) were contaminated with the type A trichothecenes T-2 and HT-2 toxin. Median levels of T-2/HT-2 (sum of the toxins) were 0.91, 0.53 and 8.2 µg kg^?1, respectively. Highest levels were found in wheat bran (24 µg kg^?1), rye kernels (3.1 µg kg^?1) and oat flakes (85 µg kg^?1). All wheat and rye samples and 75% of the oat samples were contaminated with the type B trichothecene deoxynivalenol. Median levels of this toxin were 23, 15 and 0.53 µg kg^?1, respectively. Highest levels were found in wheat bran (1160 µg kg^?1), rye kernels (288 µg kg^?1) and oat flakes (55 µg kg^?1). The type B trichothecene nivalenol was detected in 67% of the wheat samples, in 3% of the rye samples and in 24% of the oat samples with highest levels in wheat bran (96 µg kg^?1), rye kernels (1.8 µg kg^?1) and in oat flakes (17 µg kg^?1), respectively. Levels of other type A and B trichothecenes played a minor role, although the rates of contamination were often high. Neither macrocyclic type D trichothecenes (satratoxin G and H, verrucarin A, roridin A) nor diacetylverrucarol and verrucarol (type A trichothecenes), were detected in any of the samples.