Frequency and levels of aflatoxin M1 in urine of children in Bogota, Colombia

• Published in: Mycotoxin research Vol. 35; no. 3; pp. 271 - 278
• Main Authors: Sánchez, E. M., Diaz, G. J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.08.2019; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aflatoxin M1; Aflatoxins; Analytical methods; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Cereals; Chemistry/Food Science; Children; Corn; Emergency medical services; Food; Food consumption; Life Sciences; Medical Microbiology; Medicine/Public Health; Microbiology; Original Article; Trace levels; Urine; Colombia; Urine; Frequency; Aflatoxin M; Children
• ISSN: 0178-7888; 1867-1632
• DOI: 10.1007/s12550-019-00355-x

A study was conducted to investigate the frequency and levels of AFM 1 and AFM 2 in urine from children who attended the emergency service of a pediatric referral hospital in Bogota, Colombia. A survey on the consumption of foods likely to be a source of aflatoxins and on sociodemographic variables was conducted as well. The frequency of AFM 1 in urine was found to be 41.7% with an average concentration in positive samples of 16 pg mL −1  ± 10.7 pg mL −1 (range > LOD–48.5 pg mL −1 ). The presence of AFM 1 in the urine was related to the consumption of cereals likely to be contaminated with AFB 1 , especially corn and rice. No detectable levels of AFM 2 were found in any sample. The results show that children’s exposure to aflatoxins in Colombia is indeed a problem and should be one of the priorities of the health authorities. Continuous monitoring of aflatoxins in foods should be carried out, in compliance with Colombian regulations, using analytical methods that allow determination and quantification of aflatoxins in different biological and non-biological matrices at trace levels.