Pollution characteristics, enrichment patterns, and progress in detoxification research of mycotoxins in maize

Maize is susceptible to mycotoxin contamination throughout harvesting, storage, and processing, which poses potential risks to human health and livestock production. This review summarizes the occurrence, toxicological mechanisms, and contamination dynamics of major mycotoxins commonly detected in maize, including aflatoxins (AFs), ochratoxin A (OTA), zearalenone (ZEN), fumonisins (FBs), and deoxynivalenol (DON). We further examine their distribution and accumulation patterns across the maize production chain, from pre-harvest to processing. During the pre-harvest period, toxin accumulation is largely governed by climatic conditions and agricultural practices; during storage, toxin levels may escalate under conducive conditions, while processing is primarily associated with toxin redistribution and transformation. Based on these insights, we compare the applicability and limitations of physical, chemical, and biological detoxification strategies, with particular emphasis on biological approaches because of their high specificity and mild operating conditions, while recognizing challenges associated with scalability and practical application.