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

In this study, we investigate the long-term exposure (20 weeks) to fumonisin B(1) (FB(1)) 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 FB(1) 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 FB(1) toxicity in feed between Bt corn and non-Bt corn. Semi-stochastic results predicted the lowest FB(1) exposure for Bt grain with a mean of 1.5 mg FB(1)/kg diet and the highest FB(1) exposure for a diet consisting of non-Bt grain and non-Bt DDGS with a mean of 7.87 mg FB(1)/kg diet; the chronic toxicological incipient level of concern is 1.0 mg of FB(1)/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 FB(1) toxicity than diets containing non-Bt corn.