Levels and daily intake estimates of aflatoxin B1 and fumonisin B1 in maize consumed by rural households in Shamva and Makoni districts of Zimbabwe

Abstract Levels of aflatoxin B 1 and fumonisin B 1 in maize samples collected from rural households in Shamva and Makoni districts of Zimbabwe were determined. Aflatoxin B 1 was determined using high performance liquid chramotography with fluorescence detection and post-column derivatisation. Aflatoxin B 1 was detected in 80 of the 388 samples analysed at levels ranging between 0.57 and 26.6 μg/kg (median, 3.21 μg/kg). Of the samples containing aflatoxin B 1 , 18 exceeded the Zimbabwean limit for aflatoxins (5 μg/kg). Fumonisin B 1 was determined using EuroProxima™ ELISA kits. All samples analysed contained levels of fumonisin B 1 ranging between 10.43 μg/kg and 432.32 μg/kg (median, 292.15 μg/kg) and 13.84 μg/kg to 606.64 μg/kg (median, 360.18 μg/kg) for Shamva and Makoni districts respectively. In Shamva district the probable daily intake of fumonisin B 1 ranged between 0.14 and 5.76 μg/kg body weight/day and in Makoni district the probable daily intake of fumonisin B 1 ranged between 0.18 and 8.092 μg/kg body weight/day. In Shamva district fumonisin B 1 and aflatoxin B 1 were found together in 36 out of 166 samples analysed. In Makoni district fumonisin B 1 and aflatoxin B 1 were found together in 44 out of 222 samples analysed. Of the 80 samples that contained fumonisin B 1 and aflatoxin B 1 , 18 samples contained levels of aflatoxin B 1 above the national maximum regulatory limit.