Trichothecenes, ochratoxin A and zearalenone contamination and Fusarium infection in Finnish cereal samples in 1998

The occurrences and concentrations of trichothecenes, ochratoxin A and zear alenone in Finnish cereal samples are presented in this study. Furthermore, infections by moulds, especially Fusarium contamination of grains in the s ame samples, are reported. In total 68 cereal samples, including 43 rye, 4 wheat, 15 barley and 6 oats samples, were collected after a cool and very r ainy growing season in 1998. A gas chromatograph combined with a mass spect rometric detector was used for determination of seven different trichothece nes. A high performance liquid chromatograph with a fluorescence detector w as used for ochratoxin A and zearalenone determination. For the identificat ion of moulds, the grain samples were incubated and the moulds were isolate d and identified by microscopy. The analytical methods were validated for m ycotoxin analysis and they were found to be adequately reliable and sensiti ve. Heavy rainfalls in the summer and autumn of 1998 caused abundant Fusari um mould infection in Finnish cereals, particularly in rye. Fusarium avenac eum was the most common Fusarium species found in cereals. However, the myc otoxin concentrations were very low and only deoxynivalenol, nivalenol and HT-2 toxin were detected. Deoxynivalenol was detected in 54 samples in the concentration range 5-111 mug/kg. Nivalenol and HT-2 toxin were detected in three and two samples, respectively, in the concentration range 10-20 mug/ kg.