The measurement and estimation of carcinogenicity risk of of Ochratoxin A in Some Fruit Products

The one of the most toxic of mycotoxins is ochratoxin A (OTA). The aim of this study was to measure OTA in some fruit products and estimate its carcinogenicity risk.

In this study, 102 samples of fruit products including peach fruit leather, apricot fruit leather, half-dried apricot, whole-dried apricot (Qaisi), dried plum and unpitted (bokhara) plum were sampled from Hamadan. The ochratoxin level of samples was determined by ELISA and carcinogenic risk was calculated. The limit of detection of Elisa kit was 0.5 µg/kg according to producer’s guideline.

The range of OTA in the samples was 3.92-7.22 μg/kg. Thirty-one samples out of 102 fruit product samples were contaminated with ochratoxin, contamination level in 4 samples exceeded Iran limit (10 μg/kg). There is a significant difference among mean OTA of samples (P < 0.05). The mean contamination value in all samples was significantly lower Iran standard (P < 0.05). Depending on the type of fruit product examined, the estimated daily intake (EDI) of ochratoxin in children and adults ranged from 3.36×10-5-4.35×10-4 and 4.70×10-5-6.09×10-4 µg/kg bw/day, respectively. By considering OTA concentration and per capita of fruit products, carcinogenicity risk though these products was low.

Totally, the mean OTA of fruit products was significantly lower than Iran standard limit (P < 0.05). In addition, based on the calculations of carcinogenicity assessment, it could say that OTA ochratoxin intake through the consumption of fruit products didn’t result in carcinogenic risk for consumers.