Aflatoxin b₁contamination in maize samples collected from different geographical regions of India—a multicentre study

Abstract

Under a multicentre study conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research, 2,074 samples of maize were collected from rural and urban areas of 11 states representing different geographical regions of the country. These samples were analysed for aflatoxin B1 using the AOAC method. Analytical quality assurance between various participating laboratories was ensured through analysis of check-samples. About 26% of maize samples collected from 11 states exceeded the permissible Indian regulatory limit of 30 micrograms kg-1. No statistically significant difference in percentage of samples contaminated (> 30 micrograms kg-1) was observed between pooled rural (27.8%) and urban (23.7%) data. The maximum level of contamination of 666 micrograms kg-1 was observed in the state of Haryana. The median level of < 5 micrograms kg-1 was observed in the states of Gujarat, Haryana, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. In all other states studied, the median level was found to vary between 10 and 35 micrograms kg-1.

Aflatoxinas em produtos à base de milho comercializados no Brasil e riscos para a saúde humana

“…Vários estudos comprovam esta afirmação: ALI et al [2] relataram um total de 69% de amostras da Indonésia contaminadas com níveis médios de 119 µg/kg; BHAT et al [6] observaram 25,8 % de amostras contaminadas com quantidades superiores a 30 µg/kg na Índia; GLÓRIA et al [19] verificaram 33% de contaminação das amostras provenientes de cinco Estados brasileiros; VARGAS et al [49] relataram 38,3% de contaminação de amostras de diferentes regiões brasileiras com níveis médios de 9,4 µg/kg; HENNIGEN e DICK [23] relataram 30,5% de amostras provenientes do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, com níveis variáveis de 10 a 906 µg/kg; LI et al [29] observaram, na China, 35% de amostras contaminadas com níveis médios de 82 µg/kg; MACHINSKI JR et al [30] encontraram 54,5% de amostras cultivadas em campos experimentais do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil, com níveis de 6 a 1600 µg/kg; MEDINA-MARTINEZ E MARTINEZ [31] verificaram contaminação em 16,6% das amostras analisadas provenientes da Venezuela; ONO et al [38] relataram 11,3% de amostras contaminadas de origem brasileira com níveis médios de 190 µg/kg; NEPOTE, PIONTELLI, SAUBOIS [35] observaram 10% de contaminação com amostras provenientes da Argentina com concentrações acima de 20 µg/kg; e, também na Argentina, GONZALEZ et al [21] não observaram contaminação por aflatoxinas nas 30 amostras analisadas.…”

Aflatoxins in aquatic species: metabolism, toxicity and perspectives

“…Also, aflatoxins continue to be a problem in South America (Moss 1998), and in India (Bhat et al 1997). The Indian National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR) has discovered high levels of AFB 1 in food and feedstuff, beyond the level of the Indian standard for consumption (Balasubramanian 1985, Dhavan and Chaudary 1995, Bhat et al 1997. In particular, about 69% of Indian fishmeal sampled, was found contaminated with AFB 1 (Dutta and Das 2000).…”

“…Asia and Africa, which are the world's largest producers of maize and groundnut, greatly suffer from the impact of economic losses due to the high levels of aflatoxin contamination (Kpodo 1996;CGIAR 1997;Bankole and Adebanjo 2003). Also, aflatoxins continue to be a problem in South America (Moss 1998), and in India (Bhat et al 1997). The Indian National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR) has discovered high levels of AFB 1 in food and feedstuff, beyond the level of the Indian standard for consumption (Balasubramanian 1985, Dhavan and Chaudary 1995, Bhat et al 1997.…”

Effect of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) grain conditions on occurrence of mycotoxin-producing fungi

“…The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that 25 % of the world's food crops are affected by mycotoxin. In an attempt to harmonize the current tolerance to aflatoxin, World Health Organization (WHO) and FAO proposed maximum limits of 15 μg/kg [6]. The objective of this study was to determine mould and mycotoxin contamination of sorghum grain obtained from farmers and freshly harvested from the field.…”