Aflatoxins and fumonisins in corn from the high-incidence area for human hepatocellular carcinoma in Guangxi, China

A comparative study on the natural occurrence of aflatoxins and Fusarium toxins was conducted with corn samples from high- and low-incidence areas for human primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC) in Guangxi, China. In samples from the high-risk area, aflatoxin B-1 was the predominant toxin detected in terms of quantity and frequency, with its concentration ranging between 9 and 2496 mug/kg and an 85% incidence of contamination. Among the samples, 13 (76%) exceeded the Chinese regulation of 20 mug/kg for aflatoxin B-1 in corn and corn-based products intended for human consumption. Significant differences in aflatoxin B-1, B-2, and G(1) and total aflatoxin concentrations in corn between the areas were found (P < 0.05). The average daily intake of aflatoxin B-1 from corn in the high-risk area was 184.1 mug, and the probable daily intake is estimated to be 3.68 mug/kg of body weight/day, 3.20 times the TD50 in rats. Corn samples from both areas were simultaneously contaminated with fumonisins B-1, B-2, and B-3. Aflatoxin B-1 may play an important role in the development of PHC in Guangxi.