Determination of zearalenone in wheat and barley flour of East Azabaijan province by HPLC method in 2016

Zearalenone is an estrogenic mycotoxin that is produced by many species of Fusarium and causes different complications in human. The purpose of this study was to measure the amount of zearalenone in wheat and barley flour of East Azerbaijan province by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) method in 2016. In this cross sectional study, 10 samples of wheat flour and 10 barley flour with different brands of East Azerbaijan province were collected randomly. After transferring the samples to the laboratory and preparing them by using of affinity columns, High Performance Liquid Chromatography apparatus was used for measuring zearalenone. Three replicates of each sample were used for testing. The results showed that 10% of wheat flour samples exceeded the standard limit of zearalenone and 90% of wheat flour samples were below the standard limit of zearalenone. In none of the samples of barley flour, zearalenone did not exceed standard limit. In 20% of barley flour samples, zearalenone had not been detected. Zearalenone concentration range, mean and standard deviation of contamination in samples of wheat and barley flour were 32.60 ± 206.78, 89.99, 57.95 and 30.18 ± 102.69, 66.69 and 28.70 μg/kg, respectively. According to independent t test, it didn’t show statistical significance between amounts of zearalenone in wheat and barley flour samples (P>0.05). Continuous monitoring contamination levels of zearalenone in cereals, especially in wheat and barley flour is necessary.