Infants’ Exposure to Aflatoxin M1 from Mother’s Breast Milk in Iran

BACKGROUND: The occurrence of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in milk, especially breast milk, is a valuable biomarker for exposure determination to aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1)). In the present study, the risk of exposure to AFM(1) in infants fed breast milk was investigated. METHODS: An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used for the analysis of AFM(1) in breast milk samples from 132 lactating mothers referred to four urban Mothers and Babies Care Unit of Hamadan, western Iran. RESULTS: AFM(1) was detected in eight samples (6.06%) at mean concentration of 9.45 ng/L. The minimum and maximum of concentration was 7.1 to 10.8 ng/L, respectively. Although the concentration of AFM(1) in none of the samples was higher than the maximum tolerance limit accepted by USA and European Union (25 ng/kg) however, 25% had a level of AFM(1) above the allowable level of Australia and Switzerland legal limit (10 ng/L). CONCLUSIONS: Lactating mothers and infants in western parts of Iran could be at risk for AFB(1) and AFM(1) exposure, respectively. Considering all this information, the investigation of AFM(1) in lactating mothers as a biomarker for post-natal exposure of infants to this carcinogen deserves further studies in various seasons and different parts of Iran.