Prevalence and Exposure Assessment of Alternaria Toxins in Zhejiang Province, China

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of four Alternaria toxins (alternariol [AOH], alternariol monomethyl ether [AME], tenuazonic acid [TeA], and tentoxin [TEN]) in various foods and assess the risk of Alternaria-toxin exposure in Zhejiang Province, China. A total of 325 samples were collected in this study, and at least one type of Alternaria toxin was detected in 53.85% of the samples. Wheat flour had a high detection rate of 97.41%, and TeA was the most prevalent compound in terms of concentration and detection rate. Assessment of Alternaria toxins using the threshold of toxicological concern (TTC) method showed that the majority of the population had a low exposure risk. Population-wide dietary exposure assessment suggested a potential health risk for some residents with 95th percentile (P95) assessment values 0.0038, 0.0128, and 0.0047 µg/kg b.w. for AOH from wheat flour and AOH and AME from Coix rice, respectively, exceeding the TTC value of 0.0025 µg/kg b.w. Probabilistic assessment showed that the mean exposure of children aged ≤6 years to AOH via wheat flour for P92 and of those aged 7-12 years for P93 were both 0.0025 µg/kg b.w. Exposures to TeA and TEN were within the acceptable limits (below the TTC value of 1.5 µg/kg b.w.). Age-group probabilistic and point assessments indicated that children aged ≤6 and 7-12 years are at higher exposure risk. This study provides a useful reference for developing limiting values and legislation for Alternaria toxins in food.