Assessment of dietary exposure to aflatoxin B₁ from corn arepas in Colombia

ABSTRACT

The aim of this research was to evaluate dietary exposure to aflatoxin B1 (AFB₁) in corn arepas in Colombia. In addition, in this study an assessment considering compliance to the maximum level of AFB₁ (4 µg kg⁻¹) for this food was conducted. AFB₁ concentration data in corn arepas were obtained from 168 samples. The samples were collected from factories in 16 departments in Colombia. AFB₁ was quantified by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with a fluorescence detector. Consumption data and body weight (b.w.) were measured from the 2005 Colombian National Survey of Nutritional Status. Probabilistic estimates were made by Monte Carlo simulation of dietary exposure and margin of exposure (MOE) segmented by age group. The results showed that 27% of corn arepa samples were contaminated with AFB₁, with an average concentration of 15.1 µg kg⁻¹ and a maximum value of 111.1 µg kg⁻¹. The stochastic dietary exposure assessment showed that the age group most exposed was children between 4 and 8 years old (10.014 ng (kg b.w. day)⁻¹). In addition, the MOE values for all age groups were lower than 10,000, indicating a potential risk for consumers. However, in the scenario where AFB₁ concentration level complies with the maximum limit of 4 µg kg⁻¹ AFB₁, the level of concern could be reduced for the adult population between 14 and 64 years old because the MOE value is above 10,000.

KEYWORDS:

• Dietary exposure
• aflatoxin
• corn arepa
• risk assessment
• Aspergillus spp

Acknowledgments

This research was conducted in the framework of Convention 374 of 2017 between the National Institute of Health (INS) and the National Institute of Food and Drug Surveillance (Invima). Authors acknowledge the panel of experts on aflatoxin B₁ in arepas from ERIA and the pesticides group for their contributions to the characterisation of the mould and the health effects. The authors acknowledge M. Sc. Marta Lucía Ospina (Director of INS), M. Sc. Javier Humberto Guzmán (Director of Invima), Vet. Sergio Alfonso Troncoso, M. Sc. Franklin Prieto, M. Sc. Hernan Quijada, M. Sc. Wilmer Fajardo and Specialist Cristian de la Hoz Escorcia for their support and management within the framework of the Convention, The Ministry of Health and Social Protection (MSPS) for the ENSIN 2005 databases and F. C Jaime Guerrero for database depuration. Authors also acknowledge the Fundación Universitaria Agraria de Colombia – UNIAGRARIA for support on English and technical review.

Declaration of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Institute of Health (INS) and the National Institute of Food and Drug Surveillance (Invima) [Convention 374 of 2017].