Survey on the occurrence of aflatoxins in rice from different provinces of Iran

Abstract

Aflatoxins were surveyed in 256 rice samples taken from retail markets in different provinces of Iran during October 2007 and July 2008. A methanol/water (80 : 20, v/v) mixture and an aflatoxin immunoaffinity column (IAC) were used for extraction and clean-up. Mycotoxins were determined using HPLC with fluorescence detection and post-column derivatization using a photo-ionization cell. Levels of contamination ranged 0.0–5.8 ng g⁻¹ (mean, 1.4 ng g⁻¹) and 0.1–6.3 ng g⁻¹ (mean, 1.6 ng g⁻¹) for AFB1 and total aflatoxins, respectively. AFB1 was detected in almost all samples. Results showed that 55 samples (21.5%) were contaminated with more than 2 µg kg⁻¹ of AFB1, while seven samples (2.7 %) contained more than 4 µg kg⁻¹ total aflatoxins. The calculated probable daily intake of AFB1 from rice for Iranians ranged 1.4–5.8 ng AFB1 per kg body weight per day for average consumers and, hence. exceeding the estimated provisional maximum tolerable daily intake.

Keywords:

• cereals
• mycotoxins
• aflatoxins

Acknowledgements

We thank the Department of Food and Drug, Ministry of Health and Central Laboratory of Food and Drug Control of Iran for supporting this research. The technical assistance of personnel from Central Laboratory of Food and Drug Control of Iran is gratefully acknowledged.