Determination of Urinary Mycotoxin Biomarkers Using a Sensitive Online Solid Phase Extraction-UHPLC-MS/MS Method.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Chemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Toxicology

Background:

• Biomarker-based approaches are crucial for assessing human mycotoxin exposure.
• Analytical challenges include low concentrations, complex matrices, diverse analytes, and large sample sizes.
• Existing methods may lack the sensitivity or efficiency for comprehensive mycotoxin analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a sensitive, robust, and rapid analytical method for 11 mycotoxins and metabolites in human urine.
• To improve the accuracy and efficiency of human biomonitoring for mycotoxin exposure.
• To compare the performance of the new method against established techniques.

Main Methods:

• Development of an online solid phase extraction-ultra high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (online SPE-UHPLC-MS/MS) method.
• Analysis of aflatoxin M1, altenuene, alternariol monomethyl ether, alternariol, citrinin, dihydrocitrinone, fumonisin B1, ochratoxin A, zearalenone, α-zearalenol, and β-zearalenol.
• Quantitation using stable isotope dilution and matrix calibrations, with method validation for accuracy, precision, and low detection limits.

Main Results:

• The online SPE-UHPLC-MS/MS method achieved low detection limits (pg/mL) for 11 mycotoxins in human urine.
• Fumonisn B1 was detected in all 50 Zimbabwean urine samples, with six other mycotoxin biomarkers also identified.
• The new method identified a significantly higher number of positive samples compared to the dilute and shoot (DaS) approach.

Conclusions:

• The developed online SPE-UHPLC-MS/MS method is sensitive, robust, and rapid for human urine mycotoxin analysis.
• This method enhances human biomonitoring of mycotoxin exposure due to increased sensitivity and reduced sample handling.
• The approach offers a valuable tool for public health assessments related to mycotoxin contamination.