The Implication of Aflatoxin B1 Contamination Through Dietary Intake of Farm Products Sold at Selected Markets in Damaturu, Yobe State, Nigeria

Abstract

A survey was conducted on 100 farm products sold at selected markets in Damaturu to access the levels of AFB1 contamination using enzyme-linked  immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The samples collected include; 20 g each of cereals (rice, millet, maize paste 1, maize 2 and wheat flour), legumes (red  beans, groundnut 1, soya bean, white beans, groundnut 2), vegetables (spinach, red onions, garlic, egusi, baobab leaves (kuka) hot pepper, sweet pepper,  clove 1, clove 2, moringa, locust bean, okra, dried ginger) and tuber (white cassava). A food sample questionnaire was used to determine the  frequency of food consumed and consumption rates. Results of the study revealed that one of the Aflatoxigenic moulds (Aspergillus Niger) is associated  with cereal/legume products from both open and stored markets except for protein, minerals, and tuber products. A. flavus (66.67%), A parasiticus  (66.67%), Fusarium (50%), and A flavus (50) were associated with cereals, legumes, and beverages in stored markets respectively. The cereal products  collected from open and stored markets were found to be contaminated with AFB₁ at concentrations of 0.9ppb and 4.1ppb respectively. However, Protein  and tuber products were found to be free of any contamination. AFB₁ was recorded in beverages(0.66ppb), cereals/legumes (0.37ppb), and  minerals (0.5ppb) under the stored market, these results are lower than the limits established by NAFDAC of 10ppb on ready-to-eat foods and 20ppb on  other food items. Based on the results obtained, cereal-based food recorded the highest consumption (16.98kg – 88kg) rate per day among the different  individuals in each age group while beverages recorded the lowest consumption (1.5g-8.0g) rate per day. The estimated daily intake of AFB₁ from  individual age groups based on the consumption of different types of food ranged from 0.03-1.16 ng kg^-1 body weight day^-1. These results suggest that  the dietary intake of AFB₁, in Damaturu has no adverse health effects on the population.