Fumonisins in maize and its products from Dalian region, China, and risk assessment by deterministic and probabilistic approaches

A total of 76 samples of maize and its products were collected in 2022-2023 to estimate dietary exposure of fumonisins (FBs) in Dalian region, China. The identification of FBs was performed by ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). The occurrences of FB₁, FB₂, FB₃, FB₁ + FB₂ + FB₃ were 89.5%, 77.6%, 61.8%, and 61.8%, respectively, with mean concentrations ranging from 140 to 1332 μg/kg. No individual and cumulative health risks were found due to FBs dietary exposure, when considering the mean level. However, a deterministic analysis showed 95^th and 99^th exposures of FB₁ + FB₂ + FB₃ for children and adolescents were estimated to be 2.18 to 3.46 μg kg bw^-1day^-1, exceeding the Provisional Maximum Tolerable Daily Intake (PMTDI) of 2 μg kg bw^-1day^-1. Probabilistic analysis showed the 99^th exposures for all age groups were 2.06 to 3.08 μg kg bw^-1day^-1, exceeding the PMTDI. Establishment of MLs and systematic monitoring are needed to lower FBs dietary exposure and health risk in the Dalian region.