Aflatoxin M1 and ochratoxin A levels in breast milk in Ankara, Turkey (1017.8)

Abstract

Aflatoxin and Ochratoxin known as mycotoxin are the highly toxic metabolic products of molds and one of the significant groups of chemical contaminants that humans are exposed. Exposure to mycotoxins is determined by the analysis of foods or biological fluids. Monitoring the levels of mycotoxin in biological fluids (urine, breast milk, umbilical cord blood, etc.) is accurate and reliable indicator of actual exposure. For this reason measuring contamination levels in breast milk is important. The objective of this study was to determine levels of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) and ochratoxin A (OTA) in breast milk. Seventy samples of breast milk analyzed in this study were collected from randomly selected volunteer mothers gave birth in a maternity hospital in Ankara and are in lactation period for 20‐65 days. The determination of AFM1 and OTA levels were performed by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). AFM1 and OTA were determined in 9 (12.9%) and 34 (48.6%) samples of human milk, on average 5.73±0.74 ng/L and 0.14±0.03 ng/mL, respectively. In 7 mothers with AFM1 > detection limit (LD) OTA was also >LD. The results of the study indicate the contamination of human milk with mycotoxins. Consumption of safe food is important for public health especially for nutrition of mothers and infants who are within primary risk groups in public. Routine measurements of the toxin levels in foods and feeds should be carried out to prevent their harmful effects on health.