Mycotoxin Testing in Cannabis: Why Is It Important?
Microbial testing is critical in the cannabis industry, but it only tells part of the story. Even if your crop was spared from mold or fungal contamination, it may still have been exposed to the resulting mycotoxins. And these nasty carcinogens are no small problem: Cannabis contaminated with mycotoxins poses a potentially lethal threat to consumers. This makes mycotoxin a top priority for cannabis testing laboratories to identify. Here’s everything you need to know about mycotoxins and how facilities like True Labs for Cannabis use cutting-edge techniques to identify them or confirm they are not present.
In this blog, you will learn:
Where mycotoxins come from
How mycotoxins develop in cannabis
How cannabis labs test for mycotoxins
What are mycotoxins?
Mycotoxins are the byproduct of a microbial invasion. The most common type of mold that produces mycotoxins is aspergillus. Like other agricultural crops, cannabis plants are susceptible to the development of mold or fungi in humid conditions. Not only do mold and fungi grow by consuming the organic matter of the plants, but they can also destroy an entire crop by releasing mycotoxins, a secondary metabolite linked to serious health problems.
Why are mycotoxins a threat to human health?
Mycotoxins are potent carcinogens that are associated with a wide range of health issues, including kidney and liver damage, immune system suppression, and cancer. These risks are especially serious for immunocompromised consumers, many of whom are patients in state medical cannabis programs.
The most common types of mycotoxins found in cannabis include aflatoxins and ochratoxins. Each can pose equally grave health risks.
Aflatoxins: Aflatoxins can be found in crops like peanuts or corn, but they can also grow in soil where cannabis plants may absorb them. The most common aflatoxins found in cannabis include aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2, all of which are group 1 carcinogens that can pose a serious threat to consumers.
Ochratoxins: These foodborne mycotoxins are commonly seen in cereal grains, wine, coffee, and dehydrated fruits. They are generally associated with molds, such as penicillium. In cannabis, it is important to look out for ochratoxin A, a group 2b carcinogen that can be highly dangerous to human health.
The presence of any of these mycotoxins in cannabis flower or a processed product, even in trace amounts, is enough to flag the batch for destruction. Most mycotoxins are chemically stable and survive any cannabis batch remediation or processing, which is why the batch would need to be destroyed. The serious health risks posed by mycotoxins means producers must work to prevent contamination to avoid wasting time and money on a product that will never reach store shelves.
How mycotoxins develop in cannabis
To prevent the spread of microbes like the molds and fungi that release mycotoxins, producers should regulate the humidity of their cultivation and storage environments, as well as monitor the moisture content and water activity in the plant.
Humidity is a measurement of moisture in the air, and cannabis thrives in a fairly humid environment. Unfortunately, so do molds and fungi. This means cultivators need to keep their crops in the sweet spot, where the plants remain happy but there isn’t enough residual moisture to support microbial colonization. Similarly, producers should avoid overwatering, as soggy grow mediums are a perfect host for mold and mildew.
The environment is not the only factor to keep in mind. If the internal moisture content is too great, the cannabis flower may be a prime target for microbes. This risk is compounded if, once harvested, the plant is not dried and cured properly.
Even cannabis plants that are kept free of mycotoxins during cultivation and harvest may become contaminated during processing. If non-contaminated cannabis flower is run through the same machinery as contaminated flower, residual mycotoxins could be picked up by the otherwise non-contaminated batch. Remember, contamination can happen at any point in the supply chain, making frequent testing a critical quality assurance measure.
Requirements for mycotoxin testing
In many states, mycotoxin testing is required by law. This includes New Jersey, where cannabis must pass a mycotoxin screening to reach dispensary shelves. For cannabis producers, third-party testing laboratories provide reliable information about the quality of their products, ensuring no contaminated cannabis reaches the dispensary.
How labs test for mycotoxin testing
According to the New Jersey Department of Agriculture and the New Jersey Department of Health, cannabis testing labs should employ a preferred method for mycotoxin analysis using liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry detection, or LC/MS for short. Regulators also acknowledge the validity of a method using HPLC as an alternative. True Labs for Cannabis uses the state’s preferred method of LC/MS because it is the most sensitive and advanced methodology and equipment available for this analysis.
LC/MS is a widely used technique that allows analysts to detect various compounds in a sample and observe them individually. These compounds are brought into small charged particles for detection, or nebulized. Then, each compound is evaluated individually as it makes its way through the system.
This makes it a useful technique for testing cannabis, because unlike other methods, liquid chromatography enables the identification of isomers, which are compounds with the same formula but different molecular arrangements and properties that would otherwise not be detected. In cannabis, for example, delta-8 THC, delta-10 THC, and delta-9 THC are isomers of one another. When combined with mass spectrometry, analysts are able to employ a broader range of techniques when analyzing the sample.
Hidden mycotoxins are dangerous
Mycotoxins can be very dangerous to human health, which is why state law in New Jersey mandates mycotoxin testing for all cannabis products. Partnering with a trusted cannabis testing laboratory like True Labs for Cannabis can assuage the concerns of both regulators and consumers, demonstrating that your cannabis is a safe product that your customers can count on.