Variation of Deoxynivalenol Levels in Corn and Its Products Available in Retail Markets of Punjab, Pakistan, and Estimation of Risk Assessment

This study investigated the natural incidence of deoxynivalenol (DON) in corn and products from corn-producing districts Punjab, Pakistan. The analysis was carried out using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV detector immunoaffinity cleanup columns. detection limit (LOD) quantification were 25 50 µg/kg, respectively. A total 1220 samples analyzed to detect DON, 539 (44.2%) observed be contaminated DON (n ≥ LOD). Furthermore, 92 (7.5%) had levels that higher than proposed limits EU. data are significantly different a normal distribution locations (p < 0.05) for Shapiro–Wilk Kolmogorov–Smirnov values. However, significant difference found between corn-derived ≤ 0.05). lowest highest exposures, hazard quotient (HQ) values 0.92 9.68 µg/kg bw/day, documented flour samples.