A study on the occurrence of aflatoxin M1 in milk consumed in Kosovo during 2009-2010

To assess public health hazards associated with the occurrence of AFM1 residues in milk a survey was carried out, during 2009-2010 in six different major regions of Kosovo (Prishtina, Prizren, Peja, Gjakova, Mitrovica and Gjilan). In the present study a total of 895 milk samples were collected, 656 raw milk and 39 UHT milk were analyzed in 2009, while in 2010 the research materials consisted of 170 raw milk, and 30 UHT milk. The occurrence and concentration range of AFM1 in the samples were investigated by competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. From 895 samples examined, 25(2.8%) samples were contaminated with AFM1; none of contaminated samples did not exceed the maximum tolerable limit of the EC according to the European Union regulation limits of 50 ng/L. In 2009, 20 out of 695 samples (2.9%) were positive, and in 2010, 5 out of 200 samples examined (2.5%) were positive. In UHT milk, AFM1 was detected in two samples (2.6%). The positive incidence of AFM1 in milk samples collected in 2009 and in 2010 ranged from 5.2 to 26.6 ng/L and from 6.3 to 9.81 ng/L, respectively. In UHT milk levels of AFM1 were 7.2 and 9.9. In terms of regional distribution of positive samples during 2009 and 2010, Peja was the region with most of positive samples 12 or (63.2%), and 5 or (100%), respectively. Due to the unpredictability of climatic and environmental conditions, it is essential that the program of monitoring of AFM1 in milk in Kosovo should continue, to avoid an undetected problem, like occurred in other countries. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.