Occurrence and exposure assessment to aflatoxins in peanuts commercialized in the northwest of Parana, Brazil

ABSTRACT: Peanuts are a nutritious food consumed worldwide. Some species of the genus Aspergillus, producers of aflatoxins, colonize peanuts. Human exposure to aflatoxins occurs by ingesting contaminated foods. The objective of this paper was to assess the occurrence and dietary exposure of the population to aflatoxins in peanuts commercially available in Maringa, Brazil, from May 2013 to April 2017. A total of 104 peanut samples were evaluated by thin-layer chromatography and confirmed by derivatization with trifluoroacetic acid. The contamination rate detected was 24.0% in average concentration of 13.4µg/kg. Twenty positive samples (19.2%) exceeded the maximum level permitted in Brazil for the sum of four aflatoxins. Estimated probable daily intake was 1,28 µg/kg body weight/day, exceeding the Provisional Maximum Tolerable Daily Intake (0.001μg/kg body weight/day). According to the high levels of aflatoxins found in peanuts, there is need for further monitoring the presence of aflatoxins in peanuts in natura to reduce the levels of contamination.