# Study on Contamination with Some Mycotoxins in Maize and Maize-Derived Foods
## 3 Results  
### Deoxynivalenol  
Deoxynivalenol (Figure 1) is also named vomitoxin and it is produced by the _Fusarium_ species, which is adapted to various pedoclimatic conditions, and found in Romania in the plateaus of Moldova and Dobrogea or in the wetlands of the Danube Delta. _Fusarium_ _graminearum_ can infect maize and wheat, but it was also isolated from rice, coffee, peas and tomatoes [23; 24]. _Fusarium culmorum_ can infect plants of the _Gramineae_ family (wheat, rye, rice, oats and corn) but also plants of the _Solanaceae_, _Leguminosae_ and _Cuvbitaceae_ family. Deoxynivalenol is one of the least toxic of the trichothecenes, and its appearance is common, but in combination with other mycotoxins (fumonisins, T2 toxin and beauvericin) it can have much more serious effects [25]. Deoxynivalenol is a very stable trichothecene at high temperatures of 120 \({}^{\circ}\)C, and less stable at 180 \({}^{\circ}\)C. It may be dissolved in water, ethanol, methanol, chloroform, acetonitrile and ethyl acetate [26]. Analyzing the results presented in Table 1 and Figures 2 and 3, we can say that in 25% of the analyzed samples of corn grains, deoxynivalenol was identified in 20% of the samples of corn products. The determined values do not exceed the limits established by Regulation (EC) No. 1881/2006 with the subsequent modifications (for maize grains, the maximum of 1750 \(\upmu\)g/kg, and for maize-derived foods, the maximum of 500 \(\upmu\)g/kg). The deoxynivalenol level is 200 \(\upmu\)g/kg in cereal-based aliments for children, 750 \(\upmu\)g/kg in pasta and 500 \(\upmu\)g/kg in bread [24]. The EFSA recently established a PMTDI of 1 \(\upmu\)g/kg bw/day for deoxynivalenol and its metabolites [27; 28]. Figure 1: Deoxynivalenol chemical structure. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c c c} \hline \hline \multirow{2}{*}{**Sample Number**} & **The** & \multirow{2}{*}{**Country**} & **Limit of** & **Limit of** & \multirow{2}{*}{**Deoxynivalenol**} & **Limit** \\  & **Analyzed** & **of Origin** & **Detection** & **Quantification** & **\#g/kg** & **\#g/kg** \\  & **Product** & & & & & \\  & &  
The difference between the samples analyzed was significantly different (95% confidence level). In the maize category, the results obtained for samples 1, 7, 8 and 16 are not significant. The same was observed for samples 3, 5, 6, 9, 11, 13, 14 and 15. On the other hand the results obtained for the remaining four samples (samples 2, 4, 10, 12) are significantly different (\(p<0.5\%\)). The two cornflakes samples presented similar results. From the three breakfast cereals studied, only one (sample 2) was found to be significantly different (at 95% confidence level). Deoxynivalenol is the most commonly identified mycotoxin in cereals, with a mean percentage between 50% and 76% in Asia and Africa. Higher concentrations have been identified in Europe and Asia [29]. In North America, the reported deoxynivalenol levels are similar to those in the rest of the world. Increased levels of deoxynivalenol are recorded in years of severe infections caused by _Fusarium_ sp. [30]. Exposure to deoxynivalenol is usually made by aliments. The intake of contaminated foodstuffs may cause nausea, vomiting, inappetence and diarrhea. When foodstuffs consumed daily, for a longer period of time, are contaminated by deoxynivalenol, manifestations such as weight decline, anorexia and histopathological lesions in the liver occur [23]. In India, the intake of contaminated food has led to acute gastric symptoms, vomiting and diarrhea [4]. There is no evidence for the carcinogenic potential of deoxynivalenol, which is why the IARC classifies this mycotoxin as noncarcinogenic to humans (Group 3) [31]. For the deoxynivalenol parameter in samples in Romania, the determined values, compared to other studies in other parts of the globe, as presented in Table 2, are low. Moreover, the incidence in food samples is reduced.