study of aflatoxin M[1] in UHT milk samples by ELISA

ABSTRACT

Aflatoxin M[1] [AFM[1]] levels in 52 samples of UHT milk that were produced by different plants in province of Tehran were analyzed by competitive ELIZA. AFM[1] was found in 100 percent of 52 of the UHT milk samples that were analyzed in this study. The range of contamination levels varied in two seasons of summer and autumn. AFM[1] in summer and autumn samples ranged from 22.40 to 84.80 and 19.40 to 93.60 ng/kg respectively, while the mean values were 69.22 and 65.50 ng /kg respectively. Statistical evaluation showed that there were not significant differences [p>0.05] between the concentrations of AFM[1] of UHT milk samples produced in summer and autumn. In other words, AFM[1] contents of UHT milk samples produced in summer were not lower than UHT milk samples produced in autumn. Almost 79.92% of the contaminated samples exceeded the maximum acceptable levels [50 ng/kg] that accepted by some of the European countries. It was, therefore, concluded that, high occurrence of AFM[1] in UHT milk samples was considered possible hazard for human health