Health risk from aflatoxins in processed meat products in Riyadh, KSA. (15th July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Elzupir, Amin O.; Abdulkhair, Babiker Y.
• Is Part Of: Toxicon. Volume 181(2020)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 5
• Publication Date: 2020-07-15
• Subjects: Health risk -- Aflatoxin -- Processed meat products -- Margin of exposure; Toxins -- Periodicals; Venom -- Periodicals; 615.9
• DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2020.04.092
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0041-0101

Abstract

Abstract: This study investigated the health risks associated with aflatoxins (AFs) in processed meat products (PMP) sold in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The occurrence and levels of AFs were assessed using high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FD), whereas the cancer risk attributed to the consumption of meat products containing AFs was estimated by means of margin of exposure (MOE) on a scale of 100–600, representing high and low exposure, respectively. The results indicated that 37.5% of the samples were contaminated, with concentrations ranging from 0.30 to 52.93 μg/kg, at an average of 6.4 ± 12.58 μg/kg. The percentage contamination levels with total AFs higher than the permissible Saudi limit of 20 μg/kg were 4% of samples analysed and 10% of contaminated samples. AFB1 and AFG1 were the most prevalent toxins, followed by AFB2; AFG2 was not detected in any sample. The MOE was found to be 175 and 311 for total AFs in processed beef meat and poultry meat products, respectively. These results showed that the daily intake of AF-contaminated PMP may constitute a public health concern. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report the health risk associated with PMP contaminated with AFs. Highlights: Processed meat products exhibited significant aflatoxin contamination. 37.5% of the samples were contaminated, and 4% exceeds the permissible limit. The assessed cancer risk showed the margin of exposure as relatively high.