Exposure assessment for fumonisins in the former Transkei region of South Africa

Abstract

The fumonisins are mycotoxins produced mainly by Fusarium verticillioides and F. proliferatum in maize, the predominant cereal staple for subsistence farming communities in southern Africa. In order to assess exposure to these mycotoxins in the Bizana (now known as Mbizana) and Centane magisterial areas of the former Transkei region of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, the actual maize consumption by different age groups in these communities was measured. In the groups 1–9 years (n = 215) and 10–17 (n = 240) years, mean consumption (±standard error) was 246 ± 10.8 and 368 ± 10.3 g per person day⁻¹, respectively, with no significant difference (p > 0.05) between the magisterial areas. For adults (18–65 years) mean maize consumption in Bizana (n = 229) and Centane (n = 178) were significantly different (p < 0.05) at 379 ± 10.5 and 456 ± 11.9 g per person day⁻¹, respectively. An exposure assessment was performed by combining the maize consumption distribution with previously determined levels of total fumonisin (fumonisins B₁ and B₂ combined) contamination in home-grown maize in these two areas. Assuming an individual adult body weight of 60 kg, fumonisin exposure in Bizana, an area of relatively low oesophageal cancer incidence, was 3.43 ± 0.15 µg kg⁻¹ body weight day⁻¹, which was significantly lower (p < 0.05) than that in Centane (8.67 ± 0.18 µg kg⁻¹ body weight day⁻¹), an area of high oesophageal cancer incidence. Mean fumonisin exposures in all age groups in both Bizana and Centane were above the provisional maximum tolerable daily intake (PMTDI) of 2 µg kg⁻¹ body weight day⁻¹ set by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives.

Keywords:

• Fumonisin
• maize
• risk assessment
• Transkei
• exposure assessment
• South Africa
• mycotoxin

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) for funding and the following nursing sisters, Celiwe Fadana, Zoleka Mavukwana, Fezeka Mbangeni, Nonkqubela Ndamase, Nombuso Ndandani and Vuyelwa Njikija, for the collection of data and samples.