Occurrence of trichothecenes in Argentinean beer: a preliminary exposure assessment

The presence of trichothecenes (deoxynivalenol, 3-acetyl deoxynivalenol, 15 -acetyl deoxynivalenol, nivalenol, neosolaniol and diacetoxyscirpenol) was studied in 50 samples of Argentinean beer (nine different brands). Gas chro matography with electron capture detector was used for identification and q uantification of these mycotoxins. The only mycotoxin detected was deoxyniv alenol (DON). It was present in 44% of the samples, 18% were contaminated w ith more than 20 ng/ml. Toxin levels ranged from 4 to 221 ng/ml in positive samples. This is the first report on DON contamination of Argentinean beer . The estimate of probable daily intake (PDI) of DON from beer consumption in Argentina does not indicate a health hazard, but it has to be taken into account in calculations of total DON exposure in the population.