Assessment of Aflatoxin M۱ in human breast milk in Rafsanjan, Iran

Background and Purpose: Aflatoxins (AFs) are a group of highly toxic mycotoxins present both in the environment and in foodstuffs. The food of infants should be safe and free of various pollutants, including breast milk mycotoxins. This study aimed to measure the mycotoxin of Aflatoxin M۱ (AFM۱) in human milk samples obtained from lactating mothers living in Rafsanjan city, Iran. Materials and Methods: In the current cross-sectional study, breast milk samples were collected from ۱۵۰ lactating mothers in Rafsanjan city from September ۲۰۱۵ to April ۲۰۱۶ using the structured food-frequency questionnaire. The AFM۱ was measured by employing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay specific kits. The statistical analysis was performed in SPSS software (version ۱۶).Results: The AFM۱ was detected in ۹۸ mothers (۶۵%) with a mean concentration of ۱۴.۶۹±۸.۱۵ ng/kg, ranging from ۵.۰۲ to ۴۱.۲۵ ng/kg. The AFM۱ concentration exceeded the tolerable and accepted limit promulgated by the European Union and the USA (۲۵ ng/kg) in only ۱۰ milk samples. Moreover, in ۵۹ milk samples, the AFM۱ concentration exceeded the limit recommended by Australia and Switzerland (۱۰ ng/kg).Conclusion: According to the results of the present study, lactating mothers and their infants are at risk of AFM۱ exposure in southern Iran. Accordingly, the examination of AFM۱ concentrations in lactating mothers, as a critical postnatal exposure marker of infants to this carcinogenic compound, requires further studies in various seasonal periods and different parts of Iran

Keywords:

Aflatoxin M۱ , Human Breast Milk , Infant Milk , ELISA , Rafsanjan city