Development of an LC-MS/MS method for the determination of multiple mycotoxins in human urine

Abstract

A sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was developed for the determination of 17 mycotoxins in human urine. The method incorporates a two-step liquid–liquid extraction with ethyl acetate:acetonitrile (7:1), which had good extraction recovery. The LOQs of all mycotoxins ranged from 0.1 to 1 ng/mL. Intra-day accuracy ranged from 94 to 106%, and intra-day precision ranged from 1 to 12% for all mycotoxins. Inter-day accuracy and precision were 95–105% and 2–8%, respectively. The method was successfully applied to investigate the urine levels of 17 mycotoxins from 42 volunteers. Deoxynivalenol (DON, 0.97–9.88 ng/mL) was detected in 10 (24%) urine samples and zearalenone (ZEN, 0.13–1.11 ng/mL) in 2 (5%) urine samples.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• LC-MS/MS
• mycotoxin
• deoxynivalenol
• zearalenone
• aflatoxin B1
• urine

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by National Key Research and Development Program of China [No.2022YFC3302003], the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality [No.19ZR1458800, 21DZ2270800 and 19DZ2292700], Ministry of Finance, PR China [No. GY2022G-2].