Studies on mycotoxins using LC-MS/MS for the forage produced in Incheon

The purpose of this study was to investigate the contamination level of representative mycotoxins that have adverse effects on livestock by using LC-MS/MS method and to utilize the results as basic data for the establishment of quality control system for feed, and to provide information on production and storage. A total of nine mycotoxins, including aflatoxin $B_1$, aflatoxin $B_2$, aflatoxin $G_1$, aflatoxin $G_2$, ochratoxin A, fumonisin $B_1$, fumonisin $B_2$, deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEN) were simultaneously analyzed in LC-MS/MS under ESI positive mode. Fumonisin $B_1$ and fumonisin $B_2$ were detected from 3 cases of 75 forage produced in Incheon area, the detection rate was 4.0%. The detection concentration was 0.01~0.02 mg/kg, which was lower than the domestic recommended limit. Fumonisins were detected in a slightly different manner from the results of mycotoxin studies reported in Korea, which is attributed to the high temperature and dry summer weather of the year. The result of LC-MS/MS method performance of 9 mycotoxins, the recovery of DON was quite low as $41.53{\pm}3.91%$ that is not suitable for simultaneous analysis. This is probably due to that the extract solution used in this study was not suitable for the extraction of DON, along with the characteristics of a very dry forage. For the study of mycotoxins in Incheon area forage for the first time, further investigation is needed for the safe supply of livestock products.