Evaluation of Aflatoxin M1 Contamination in Pasteurized Milk in Kerman and Rafsanjan Cities in 2019: A Descriptive Study
L. Sotoodeh[1], A. Dini[2], M. Rezaeian[3], A. Esmaeili[4], A. Asgarian[5]
Received:01/08/2020 Sent for Revision: 26/08/2020 Received Revised Manuscript:29/11/2020 Accepted: 02/12/2020
Background and Objectives: Aflatoxins are known as causative factors of hepatic and extra-hepatic carcinogenesis within humans. Aflatoxin B1 enters the animal body through contaminated feed and is partially secreted in milk after being metabolized in the liver to aflatoxin M1 (AFM1). The aim of this study was to determine the amount of aflatoxin M1 to evaluate the quality status of pasteurized milk.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was performed to determine the occurrence of AFM1 in 39 pasteurized milk samples collected during winter and summer 2019 in Kerman and Rafsanjan cities. Aflatoxin analysis was carried out by high-performance liquid chromatography. The non-parametric Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis H tests were used to analyze data.
Results: Aflatoxin M1 was detected in 100% of the pasteurized milk ranging from 5.41 to 125.37 ng/l. Toxin levels in 2.6% (1 sample) and 17.9% (7 samples) of the pasteurized milk samples exceeded the Iranian national standard (100 ng/L) and EU (50 ng/L) limit, respectively. The mean concentration of aflatoxin in pasteurized milk samples produced in various regions was significantly different (p <0.05). The carcinogenic risk assessment of AFM1 in milk was estimated, indicating that adult consumers in Kerman and Rafsanjan city are not at considerable cancer risk (HI<1). However, it was not the case for children (1<HI<10).
Conclusion: Large amount of AFM1 in milk samples might be a potential hazard for the public health. Thus, analyzing and reducing the levels of AFB1 in animal feedstuffs and AFM1 in raw milk delivered by dairy factories can be regarded as the initial step to control the transfer of AFM1 to humans.
Key words: Aflatoxin M1, Milk, High Pressure Liquid Chromatography, Carcinogenic Risk assessment
Funding: This study was funded by Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
Conflict of interest: None declared.
Ethical approval: The Ethics Committee of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences approved the study (IR.RUMS.REC.1398.014).
How to cite this article: Sotoodeh L, Dini A, Rezaeian M, Esmaeili A, Asgarian A. Evaluation of Aflatoxin M1 Contamination in Pasteurized Milk in Kerman and Rafsanjan Cities in 2019: A Descriptive Study.
J Rafsanjan Univ Med Sci 2021; 19 (11): 1163-78 [Farsi]
[1]- MSc Student of Food Sciences and Technology, Rafsanjan Institute of Kar, Rafsanjan, Iran, ORCID: 0000-0002-4679-530X
[2]- Assistant Prof., Pistachio Safety Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran, ORCID: 0000-0002-1856-1629
(Corresponding Author): Tel: (034) 34282703, Fax: (034) 34282706, E-mail: a.dini@rums.ac.ir
[3]- Prof., Dept. of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Occupational Environmental Research Center, School of Medicine, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran, ORCID: 0000-0003-3070-0166
[4]- Associate Prof., Occupational Environmental Research Center, Dept. of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran, ORCID: 0000-0002-4321-5947
[5]- MSc in Analytical Chemistry, Food and Drug Control Laboratory, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran, ORCID: 0000-0002-3883-5949