Abstract
Dry fruits and nuts are nutritious foods with several health-promoting properties. However, they are prone to contamination with aflatoxins at all stages of production and storage. The present study aimed to determine the natural occurrence of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), aflatoxin B2 (AFB2), aflatoxin G1 (AFG1), aflatoxin G2 (AFG2), and total aflatoxins (AFT) in dates, pistachios, and walnuts collected from four districts of South Punjab (Pakistan), and to assess the associated health risks as estimated by dietary exposure and the Margin of Exposure (MoE) determinations. The contents of AFB1 and AFT in these food products were monitored during storage under three different conditions (open-air, hermetically closed jars, and refrigeration at 4 °C) to determine the most efficient conditions in preventing aflatoxin accumulation. HPLC-fluorescence analysis of 60 samples of these products for aflatoxin contamination showed that 52 (86.7%) samples were contaminated at different levels, with a maximum of 24.2 ng/g. The overall (all samples) mean concentrations of AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, AFG2, and AFT were 3.39 ± 2.96, 1.39 ± 1.68, 1.63 ± 1.48. 1.12 ± 1.23, and 7.54 ± 6.68, respectively. The Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) and MoE of aflatoxins through the consumption of the products ranged from 0.06 ng/kg bw/day to 2.0 ng/kg bw/day and from 84.84 to 2857.13, respectively, indicating that consumers are at high health risk. Significant differences were recorded between aflatoxin levels in the samples stored under different storage conditions, with storage under refrigeration (4 °C) being the most effective in controlling aflatoxin accumulation, although storage in closed jars was also efficient and offers a more flexible alternative to retailers. The findings of the study urge official authorities of Pakistan to implement appropriate regulatory and control measures and surveillance program to alleviate the potential public health risks associated with the consumption of dry fruits and nuts in the scope of their increased consumption.
Highlights
Aflatoxins are difumarocoumarin derivatives synthesized through the polyketide pathway by several fungal species, mainly Aspergillus flavus, A. parasiticus, and A. nomius, widely distributed contaminants of a variety of agri-food commodities [1]
Our results suggest that the aflatoxin contamination levels of dates, walnuts, and pistachios marketed in the four studied districts of Punjab (Pakistan) are not too high compared with those reported for the same products in other countries, which can be in the range of mg/g (Table 3)
Apart from previous studies surveying the extent of the contamination of dry fruits and nuts with aflatoxins in the northern part of Punjab, Pakistan, this is the first study, to our knowledge, in which the health risks associated with the aflatoxin contamination of dates, pistachios, and walnuts marketed in Pakistan were investigated
Summary
Aflatoxins are difumarocoumarin derivatives synthesized through the polyketide pathway by several fungal species, mainly Aspergillus flavus, A. parasiticus, and A. nomius, widely distributed contaminants of a variety of agri-food commodities [1]. Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1 ) and natural mixtures of aflatoxins are classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as human carcinogens of group. Aflatoxins have been associated with acute and chronic health conditions, including hepatotoxicity, teratogenicity, genotoxicity, retarded growth, immunotoxicity, and neurotoxicity in both humans and animals [4]. The consumption of nuts and dried fruits is being encouraged around the world, for their high nutritional quality and palatability [5,6], and because they constitute a valuable source of bioactive substances with established health-promoting properties [7,8]. There is a growing body of evidence that the consumption of nuts and dried fruits is inversely related to the risk of all-cause cardiovascular disease (CVD)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: International journal of environmental research and public health
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
