The health risk assessment and determination of aflatoxin M₁ in raw milk using HPLC/FLD

Milk is one of the most complete foods, and its contamination is a serious risk to public health. Various studies on animals indicate the carcinogenicity of aflatoxin M₁ (AFM₁). This mycotoxin enters the milk through consumption of contaminated animal feed. The purpose of this research was to determine AFM₁ in milk samples and evaluate its safety due to contamination with this mycotoxin. The samples were selected from livestock farms and transported to the laboratory under hygienic conditions. The amount of AFM₁ was measured by HPLC/FLD. The extraction and clean-up stage of the samples was done using appropriate solvents and immunoaffinity columns. The reported amount was in the range of non-detected (ND) to160 ng/L. Most of the samples were lower than the permissible level of the national standard. However, in 16% of the samples, the level of AFM₁ was higher than the permissible limit. Hazard Quotient (HQ) was calculated with mean data for adults and children. HQ was calculated as less than one for adults and children. Therefore, there is no noncarcinogen risk regarding the consumption of milk in terms of AFM₁.