Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42188632›Full record

ArticleToxins2026

Multi-Mycotoxin Occurrence and Health Risk Assessment in Early Post-Harvest Durum Wheat, Barley, and Maize from Tunisia.

Khouloud Ben Hassouna, Jalila Ben Salah-Abbès, Samir Abbès, Ferjeni Zouidi, Mourad Jridi, Albert Sebastià, Noelia Pallarés, Houda Berrada

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Toxins, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Khouloud Ben HassounaLaboratory of Analysis, Treatment and Valorization of Environmental Pollutants and Products, Faculty of Pharmacy, Monastir University, Monastir 5000, Tunisia.
Jalila Ben Salah-AbbèsLaboratory of Analysis, Treatment and Valorization of Environmental Pollutants and Products, Faculty of Pharmacy, Monastir University, Monastir 5000, Tunisia.ORCID 0009-0004-7857-3965
Samir AbbèsLaboratory of Genetic, Biodiversity and Bio-Resources Valorisation, Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Monastir, University of Monastir, Monastir 5000, Tunisia.ORCID 0000-0002-8466-5063
Ferjeni ZouidiDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, Abha 62521, Saudi Arabia.ORCID 0009-0004-1256-7036
Mourad JridiHigh Institute of Biotechnology of Béja, University of Jendouba, Jendouba 8189, Tunisia.
Albert SebastiàPreventive Medicine and Public Health, Food Science, Toxicology and Forensic Medicine Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitat de València, Burjassot, 46100 València, Spain.ORCID 0000-0002-0497-5871
Noelia PallarésPreventive Medicine and Public Health, Food Science, Toxicology and Forensic Medicine Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitat de València, Burjassot, 46100 València, Spain.ORCID 0000-0001-8018-3959
Houda BerradaPreventive Medicine and Public Health, Food Science, Toxicology and Forensic Medicine Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitat de València, Burjassot, 46100 València, Spain.ORCID 0000-0001-7302-5282

Funding

Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades PID2024-160527OB-I00
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The contamination of cereals by mycotoxins represents a major concern due to their harmful effects on human health and food quality. The current study investigated the occurrence of major mycotoxins (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, AFG2, OTA, ENA, ENA1, ENB, and ENB1) in 158 raw cereal samples (durum wheat, barley, and maize) collected from two Tunisian regions: Beja (continental region) and Mahdia (coastal region). Mycotoxins were extracted using the QuEChERS method and quantified by UHPLC-MS/MS. Several mycotoxins were detected at high levels across all the cereals. In the Beja region, durum wheat was contaminated with AFB1, AFG1, ENA, ENA1, ENB, and ENB1, with ENB being the most frequent (70%). Mahdia durum wheat was contaminated only with ENA, ENA1, ENB, and ENB1, with ENB1 being the most prevalent (22.6%). Barley from both regions was contaminated only with ENs. The ENB was the most frequent (Beja 66%, Mahdia 28.6%). Maize from Beja was contaminated by OTA and ENs, with ENA1 being the most frequent (22.5%), while maize from Mahdia was contaminated by AFB1, AFB2, AFG2, and ENs (AFB1 was the most frequent, 35%). All wheat samples contaminated with AFG1 (6.55%) exceeded the European Union maximum limit for AFs in cereals (4 µg/kg). Similarly, maize samples contaminated with AFB1 (17.5%), AFB2 (10%), and AFG2 (2.5%) exceeded the EU maximum limit for aflatoxins in maize (10 µg/kg). Additionally, maize samples contaminated with OTA (5%) exceeded the EU maximum limit for OTA in unprocessed cereals (5 µg/kg). The co-occurrence of multiple mycotoxins was observed in all cereal types, with up to six different mycotoxins detected in a single sample. Dietary risk assessment revealed high EDIs of AFB1, AFG1, and ENs through the consumption of wheat and barley by Tunisian adults. The calculated MOE values for AFB1 and AFG1 in wheat were below 10,000 (MOE = 1190 for AFB1 and 2.5 for AFG1), suggesting a potential health concern associated with dietary exposure. Despite this potential risk, AFB1 and AFG1 were detected in only 3% and 7% of the analyzed samples, respectively. These results highlight the need for regular monitoring and the establishment of regulations to control mycotoxins in Tunisian cereals.

Indexed as

Edible GrainFood ContaminationHordeumMycotoxinsTriticumZea maysChromatography, High Pressure LiquidHumansRisk AssessmentTandem Mass SpectrometryTunisiaMycotoxinscerealsmycotoxinsrisk assessmentTunisiaUHPLC–MS/MS

Identifiers

PMID42188632
PMCPMC13211730

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.