**1. Introduction**

Crop pollution by fungal toxins is a global issue that causes massive annual economic losses. Large territorial areas of China are located in temperate and subtropical zones, o ffering favorable climatic conditions for the growth and reproduction of toxic fungi [1]. Zearalenone (ZEN) of *Fusarium* [2] and ochratoxin A (OTA) of *Aspergillus* and *Penicillium* [3] exhibited the most extensive distribution and strongest toxicity among the more than 400 toxic fungi discovered thus far [4]. Numerous studies have reported on the reproduction, genetic, and immune toxicities of ZEN, which causes nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea in humans and animals [5]. Animal toxicological experiments and clinical studies have demonstrated the strong nephrotoxicity, immunotoxicity, and carcinogenicity of OTA [6,7].

Ozone, as a strong oxidant, can attack the double bond in organic compounds through molecules and free radicals in a liquid system [8–10]. In addition, ozone exhibits acceptable permeability and can

automatically decompose into oxygen without generating toxic residues [11]. Hence, ozonation is a fungal toxin degradation technology with promising potential, and has been the focus of numerous studies in recent decades. Xu et al. discussed the reduction of ZEN in corn flour by ozone treatment, and four ozonation products were identified by a method involving the use of ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry [12]. Inan et al. degraded aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in sliced and ground pimiento by 33 and 66 mg/<sup>L</sup> ozone and obtained degradation rates of 80% and 93%, respectively [13]. Zorlugenc et al. treated AFB1 in dry figs by ozone gas and ozonated water for 180 min, and the degradation rates of AFB1 were 95.21% and 88.62%, respectively [14]. These studies proved the strong degradation capability of ozonated gas and ozone water for fungal toxins.

Electron beam irradiation (EBI) is the process of irradiating products by using the electron beam generated by an electron accelerator. This technology is characterized by high energy utilization, simple operation, and safe use. EBI is a safe and e ffective green-processing technology. Researchers have explored the application of EBI in agricultural products and food storage, crop breeding, radiation sterilization, radiation pest control, and other emerging fields such as radiation chemical and radiation material engineering [15,16]. The degradation of fungal toxins in foods based on EBI has recently been discussed. Stepanik et al. investigated the degradation of deoxynivalenol (DON) in three production intermediates in distillers dried grain and solubles by using a dose of EBI treatment [17]. Wang et al. discussed the degradation of AFB1 by EBI and found that 8.6 kGy of EBI was adequate to completely degrade 5 ng/g AFB1 [18]. The mechanism of action was similar to that of γ-ray [19]. Water molecules were activated and ionized after EBI, generating hydroxyl radicals and hydration molecules. Hydroxyl radicals further destroy the molecular structure of the toxin.

Few studies on the degradation of ZEN and OTA by ozone and EBI are available presently, although numerous studies have focused on the degradation of AFB1 [20]. The e ffects of ozone and EBI on the degradation of ZEN and OTA cannot be easily understood due to the di fferent structures of ZEN and OTA from AFB1, thereby limiting the applications of ozone and EBI in ZEN- and OTA-contaminated foods. The influences of ozone concentration, sample concentration, treatment time, and radiation dose in acetonitrile and methanol systems on the degradation rates of ZEN and OTA were discussed on the basis of previous studies on DON [21] and AFB1 [22] degradation by ozone and EBI. The present study provides theoretical and practical bases for OTA and ZEN degradation in food by ozone and EBI in the future.
