Mycotoxin contamination of home-grown maize in rural northern South Africa (Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces)

The aim of this study was to assess mycotoxin contamination of crops grown by rural subsistence farmers over two seasons (2011 and 2012) in two districts, Vhembe District Municipality (VDM, Limpopo Province) and Gert Sibande District Municiality (GSDM, Mpumalanga Province), in northern South Africa and to evaluate its impact on farmers' productivity and human and animal health. A total of 114 maize samples were collected from 39 households over the two seasons and were analysed using a validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry mycotoxins method. Aflatoxin B-1 (AFB(1)) occurrence ranged from 1 to 133 mu gkg(-1) in VDM while AFB(1) levels in GSDM were less than 1.0 mu gkg(-1) in all maize samples. Fumonisin B-1 levels ranged from 12 to 8514 mu gkg(-1) (VDM) and 11-18924 mu gkg(-1) (GSDM) in 92% and 47% positive samples, respectively, over both seasons. Natural occurrence and contamination with both fumonisins and aflatoxins in stored home-grown maize from VDM was significantly (p<0.0001) higher than from GSDM over both seasons.