Occurrence of aflatoxin M1 and exposure assessment in Catalonia (Spain)

Background Aflatoxin M-1 (AFM(1)) is the main monohydroxylated derivate of aflatoxin B-1 (AFB(1)) formed in liver and excreted into milk Although AFM1 is less toxic than AFB1 it has been classified as a possible human carcinogen. Group 2B agent by International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Objectives The objectives of this study were (I) to determine the occurrence of AFM1 in the main dairy produces cosumed in Catalonia region (Spain) and (II) to assess the exposure of Catalonian population to aflatoxin M-1 through deterministic and probabilistic method Methods Occurrence of Aflatoxin M-1 (AFM(1)) was determined in 72 composites of milk, 72 composites of cheese and 72 composites of yoghurt from Catalonia AFM(1) content was analysed using an Enzyme-Linked immunoSorbent Assay Commercial kit Three approaches to exposure assessment were conducted one deterministic method and two probabilistic models with Monte Carlo simulations Results AFM(1) was detected in 94 4% (68/72) of whole UHT milk samples, in 2 8% (2/72) of yoghurt samples and not detected in cheese. the maximum level was detected in one yoghurt sample with 51 58 ng/kg, only this sample being over the legal EU limit of 50 ng/kg Milk, cheese and yoghurt mean concentrations were 9 29 +/- 2 61, < 12 5 and 13 22 +/- 4 82 ng/kg, respectively Conclusions According to these values, it should be expected Catalonian population is not exposed to a significant risk from aflatoxin M1 including average and high consumers (C) 2010 Revista Iberomericana de Micologia Published by Elsevier Espana. SL All rights reserved