Skip to main content
Log in

Investigation of aflatoxin and ochratoxin A contamination of seized cannabis and cannabis resin samples

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Mycotoxin Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Recreational cannabis is being legalized in more and more countries, and methods for the determination of contaminants, thereunder mycotoxins, start to emerge in scientific literature. On the other hand, cannabis continues being available on the illegal market without any quality control at all. Today, no information about mycotoxin contamination of illegal cannabis is available in literature. Therefore, in order to increase knowledge about mycotoxin contamination of cannabis, aflatoxins (AF) and ochratoxin A (OTA) were analyzed in 142 samples of illegal cannabis seized on the local market using a method based on HPLC-FLD detection, after clean up with immuno-affinity cartridges. AF were derivatized prior to detection with a Kobra cell. No AF contamination (LOD = 0.04 µg/kg) was detected in any of the samples analyzed. OTA however was detected in about one-third of the samples with an average concentration of 4.30 µg/kg (range from 1.02 to 16.21 µg/kg). No significant difference was observed between resin and herbal samples. Overall, the concentrations remain low and do not suggest an issue to human health if the cannabis consumption remains moderate.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Atkins PL (2019) Sample processing and preparation considerations for solid cannabis products. J AOAC Int 102:427–433

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bifulco M, Pisanti S (2015) Medicinal use of cannabis in Europe. EMBO Rep 16:130–132

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brown AK, Xia Z, Bulloch P, Idowu I, Francisco O, Stetefeld J, Stout J, Zimmer J, Marvin C, Letcher RJ, Gregg T (2019) Validated quantitative cannabis profiling for Canadian regulatory compliance - Cannabinoids, aflatoxins, and terpenes. Anal Chim Acta 1088:79–88

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cacic M, Percin A, Zgorelec Z, Kisic I (2019) Evaluation of heavy metals accumulation potential of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.). J Cent Eur Agric 20:700–711

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Da Rocha MEB, Freire FdCO, Maia FEF, Guedes MIF, Rondina D (2014) Mycotoxins and their effects on human and animal health. Food Control 36:159–165

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dhakal A, Sbar E (2020) Aflatoxin Toxicity. Nov 10. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. (PMID: 32491713)

  • Dujourdy L, Besacier F (2017) A study of cannabis potency in France over a 25 year period (1992 – 2016). For Sci Int 272:72-80

  • Greaves A, Maddison K, Doran M, Lin S, Geiling B (2021) Single laboratory validation of an immunoaffinity column cleanup LC method for the analysis of aflatoxins and ochratoxin A in cannabis plant material, resins, vapes, isolutes and edible products. J AOAC Int 104:1264–1271

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heussner AH, Bingle LEH (2015) Comparative ochratoxin toxicity: a review of the available data. Toxins 22:4253–4282

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Izzo L, Castaldo L, Narváez A, Graziani G, Gaspari A, Rodríguez-Carrasco Y, Ritieni A (2020) Analysis of phenolic compounds in commercial Cannabis sativa L. Inflorescences Using UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS Molecules 25:631

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kinsella B, Telepchak MJ, Mackowsky D, Duncan DA, Fanning T (2017) Pesticide and mycotoxin analysis: mastering the complexity of the cannabis matrix. LCGC 35:33–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Moulins JR, Blais M, Montsion K, Tully J, Mohan W, Gagnon M, McRitchie T, Kwong K, Snider N, Blais DR (2018) Multiresidue method of analysis of pesticides in medical cannabis. J AOAC Int 101:1948–1960

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Narváez A, Rodríguez-Carrasco Y, Castaldo L, Izzo L, Ritieni A (2020) Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry for multi-residue analysis of mycotoxins and pesticides in botanical nutraceuticals. Toxins 12:114

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pardo B (2014) Cannabis Policy Reforms in the Americas: A Comparative Analysis of Colorado, Washington, and Uruguay. Int J Drug Policy 25:727-735

  • Reyes-Garcés N, Myers C (2020) Analysis of the California list of pesticides, mycotoxins, and cannabinoids in chocolate using liquid chromatography and low-pressure gas chromatography-based platforms. J Sep Sci 44:2564–2576

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sulyok M, Krska R, Schuhmacher R (2010) Application of an LC–MS/MS based multi-mycotoxin method for the semi-quantitative determination of mycotoxins occurring in different types of food infected by moulds. Food Chem 119408–416

  • Urusov AE, Zherdev AV, Dzantiev BB (2010) Immunochemical methods of mycotoxin analysis (review). Appl Biochem Microbiol 46:253–266

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wilcox J, Pazdanska M, Milligan C, Chan D, MacDonald SJ, Donnelly C (2020) Analysis of aflatoxins and ochratoxin A in cannabis and cannabis products by LC–fluorescence detection using cleanup with either multiantibody immunoaffinity columns or an automated system with in-line reusable immunoaffinity cartridges. J AOAC Int 103:494–503

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang L, Dou XW, Zhang C, Logrieco A, Yang MH (2018) A review of current methods for analysis of mycotoxins in herbal medicine. Toxins 10:1–39

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Claude Schummer.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Buchicchio, L., Asselborn, L., Schneider, S. et al. Investigation of aflatoxin and ochratoxin A contamination of seized cannabis and cannabis resin samples. Mycotoxin Res 38, 71–78 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12550-022-00449-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12550-022-00449-z

Keywords

Navigation