Removal of Naturally Occurring Mycotoxins from an Aqueous Substrate

Certain species of fungi, eg. Fusarium, produce mycotoxins, i.e. naturally toxic organic compounds, in response to certain adverse growth conditions. Although the severe effects of ingesting mycotoxin-contaminated grains (eg. corn and wheat) by humans and/or animals are well documented, there are no documented cases of mycotoxin-contaminated drinking waters. However, since natural and man-made mycotoxin production exists, the possibility of mycotoxin contamination of drinking water was deemed to exist. The objective of this investigation was, therefore, to determine which water treatment methods would be successful in the removal of mycotoxins from freshwaters. The experimental test procedures were based on a 50 mg/L stock solution of T-2 mycotoxin in distilled water which was then subjected to various typical water treatment techniques, Samples of the product waters were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively using both liquid and gas chromatography techniques. In addition, animal bioassay-type testing was employed to evaluate the potential acute and chronic biological effects of the product waters. The results of these tests indicated that the most effective water treatment methods were (i) adsorption on a synthetic resin, (ii) activated carbon adsorption, (iii) distillation, (iv) lime “stabilization” and (v) reverse osmosis. These methods generally resulted in high degrees of mycotoxin removal and product waters which had little or no effect on the test animals. Conventional water treatment techniques, i.e. coagulation, filtration and disinfection, had little or no effect in removing the particular mycotoxin which was tested.