Determination of trichothecenes and zearalenone in different corn (Zea mays) cultivars for human consumption in Poland

• Corn cultivars for human consumption were examined for mycotoxin content by LC–MS/MS.
• The effect of place where grain was stored on degree of contamination was determined.
• Polish corn (except one variety) complies with the limits for mycotoxins fixed by EC.
• In Polish corn type B trichothecenes predominated over type A trichothecenes.

Contents of 11 trichothecenes of A and B types and zearalenone were determined in corn (Zea mays) samples by using a high performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC–ESI-MS/MS). The lowest LOD was found for T-2 triol with 0.2 μg/kg. The content of mycotoxins in corn grain was compared, depending on cultivar and storage space. Based on the results, it was found that the 12 different corn cultivars and mix contained 9 of the 12 mycotoxins under investigation. The mycotoxins found were deoxynivalenol, nivalenol, 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol, 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol, fusarenon X, neosolaniol, diacetoxyscirpenol, T-2 triol and zearalenone; T-2 tetraol, HT-2 and T-2 were not detected. DON was found to be a prevailing toxin of the highest concentration in almost all the studied samples. The most contaminated corn cultivar was Terada. Additional studies have shown differences in mycotoxins content in Delitop cultivar depending on the sample provider. This work presents the first complete and accurate survey carried out in Lower Silesia (southwestern Poland) on the presence of mycotoxins in corn and demonstrates how the examined region could be considered as suitable for the production of healthful corn products.