Fumonisin B₁ Toxicity in Grower-Finisher Pigs: A Comparative Analysis of Genetically Engineered Bt Corn and non-Bt Corn by Using Quantitative Dietary Exposure Assessment Modeling

Abstract: In this study, we investigate the long-term exposure (20 weeks) to fumonisin B₁ (FB₁) in grower-finisher pigs by conducting a quantitative exposure assessment (QEA). Our analytical approach involved both deterministic and semi-stochastic modeling for dietary comparative analyses of FB₁ exposures originating from genetically engineered Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)-corn, conventional non-Bt corn and distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) derived from Bt and/or non-Bt corn. Results from both deterministic and semi-stochastic demonstrated a distinct difference of FB₁ toxicity in feed between Bt corn and non-Bt corn. Semi-stochastic results predicted the lowest FB₁ exposure for Bt grain with a mean of 1.5 mg FB₁/kg diet and the highest FB₁ exposure for a diet consisting of non-Bt grain and non-Bt DDGS with a mean of 7.87 mg FB₁/kg diet; the chronic toxicological incipient level of concern is 1.0 mg of FB₁/kg of diet. Deterministic results closely mirrored but tended to slightly under predict the mean result for the semi-stochastic analysis. This novel comparative QEA model reveals that diet scenarios where the source of grain is derived from Bt corn presents less potential to induce FB₁ toxicity than diets containing non-Bt corn.