Estimation of Aflatoxin M1 Exposure throughConsumption of Various Dairy Milk Productsin Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the occurrence of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in variousmilk products marketed in Yogyakarta Province (Indonesia) and to estimate the exposure of afla-toxin through contaminated milk consumption. Fresh milk (n=20), pasteurized milk (n=16), andrecombined milk products (n=6) were sampled for AFM1 concentration testing by a competitiveELISA test using ELISA kit for AFM1 assay. A survey was conducted to interview consumers(n=88) on milk consumption habit (milk type and amount of consumption). ELISA assays showed92.5% of samples werecontaminated with AFM1 in a range of 24-570 ng/L (average: 216 ng/L). Thehighest average AFM1 concentration was detected in pasteurized milk sample (244 ng/L), fol-lowed by fresh milk (219 ng/L), and the lowest was in recombined milk sample (131 ng/L). How-ever, 100% of recombined milk samples had AFM1 concentration >50-500 ng/L. Thus, recombinedmilk product was most likely the main source of AFM1 intake due to its high daily consumption inall age groups. Based on AFM1 levels found in milk and consumption of corresponding milk sample,it was estimated that the overall AFM1 exposure ranges from 1.23 ng/kg body weight/day (in 6-15year-old children) up to 5.26 ng/kg body weight/day (in 3-5 year-old children). In conclusion, thisstudy revealed high occurrences of AFM1 dairy milk marketed in Yogyakarta. Although levels ofAFM1 contamination were in Indonesian regulatory limit, high exposure of aflatoxin found in allage groups of consumer. Thus, this preliminary study provides evidence that AFM1 contaminatedmilk is a serious public health hazard in Indonesia