Determination of aflatoxin M1 in milk samples of Zanjan, Gilan, East Azerbaijan and Kermanshah provinces by ELASA method

Aflatoxin M1 is one of mycotoxins which is produced by metabolism of Aflatoxin B1 and enters to the human body through animal milk. It has very strong hepatotoxic, carcinogenic and mutagenic effects and is potentially dangerous for human health. As milk is one of the most important foods for humans, it is essential to protect the health risk of Aflatoxin M1 in different age groups. In the present study, raw and pasteurized milk samples of Zanjan, East Azerbaijan, Gilan and Kermanshah provinces have been evaluated then contamination of the samples with aflatoxin M1 and also the status of this contamination in different seasons have been investigated.

180 samples (93 samples of raw milk and 87 samples of pasteurized milk) In the autumn and winter of 1997 and the spring and summer of 1998 were collected from stores in Zanjan, East Azarbaijan, Gilan and Kermanshah provinces. The samples were centrifuged, the surface fat removed, and competitive ELISA assessed for aflatoxin M1.

In this study, 180 samples were collected from 4 cities of Tabriz, Kermanshah, Zanjan and Rasht, where the level of aflatoxin M1 was measured by ELISA method. The results showed that 100% of the examined samples were infected with aflatoxin M1 and the average concentration aflatoxin M1 in Tabriz, Kermanshah, Zanjan and Rasht are 31.9±6.5, 30.7±16.9, 29.9±2.2 and 25.4±3.8 ng/L,that was observed in the range of <1-134.2 ng/liter.

The results of our study showed that in all samples taken from four cities of Tabriz, Kermanshah, Zanjan and Rasht, there is aflatoxin M1 contamination that the level of this contamination was different from season to season. In such a way, the highest contamination was observed in the autumn and in the traditional type of production. Considering the harmfulness of aflatoxin M1 for human health, it is very important to continuously control animal feed in terms of aflatoxin B1 and control milk and its products for the absence of aflatoxin M1.