Diella G, Caggiano G, Ferrieri F, Ventrella A, Palma M, Napoli C, Rutigliano S, Lopuzzo M, Lovero G, Montagna M T
Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy.
ARPA Puglia - Regional Agency for the Environmental Prevention and Protection, Food Specialization Centre, Bari, Italy.
Ann Ig. 2018 Sep-Oct;30(5):401-409. doi: 10.7416/ai.2018.2240.
Aflatoxins (AFs) are one of the main groups of mycotoxins produced by molds. Nuts, although recognized as a food with health benefits, are frequently contaminated by AFs.
In this preliminary study we evaluated the contamination by total AFs and AFB1 in different types of nuts from different countries marketed in Apulia.
Overall, 124 samples (almonds, apricot kernels, chestnuts, hazelnuts, peanuts, pistachios, walnuts and Brazil nut) were analyzed using an High-Performance Liquid Chromatography system.
Twenty samples (16.1%) were contaminated with AFs of which 55% were non-compliant, according to Reg. 165/2010. The median values (µg/kg) of total AFs and AFB1 were 16.6 and 15.1, respectively. Pistachios appeared more susceptible to AF contamination than the other nuts, with levels of total AFs ranging from 8.8 to 387.3 µg/kg and of AFB1 from 8.2 to 354.5 µg/kg. The majority of contaminated samples came from Asia and AF contamination was different in the various Asiatic sub-regions: regardless of the type of nuts, samples from Western Asia were the least contaminated.
As geographical origin may influence the risk of contamination, in order to protect human health, customer countries should increase AF monitoring in nuts coming from those countries with favorable environments for the growth of aflatoxigenic molds or with less strict regulations.
黄曲霉毒素（AFs）是霉菌产生的主要霉菌毒素类别之一。坚果虽被认为是有益健康的食品，但经常受到AFs污染。
在这项初步研究中，我们评估了普利亚地区市场上来自不同国家的不同类型坚果中总AFs和AFB1的污染情况。
总共124个样本（杏仁、杏仁核、栗子、榛子、花生、开心果、核桃和巴西坚果）使用高效液相色谱系统进行分析。
根据欧盟法规165/2010，20个样本（16.1%）受到AFs污染，其中55%不符合标准。总AFs和AFB1的中位数（微克/千克）分别为16.6和15.1。开心果似乎比其他坚果更容易受到AF污染，总AFs水平在8.8至387.3微克/千克之间，AFB1水平在8.2至354.5微克/千克之间。大多数受污染样本来自亚洲，并且在亚洲各个次区域AF污染情况不同：无论坚果类型如何，西亚的样本污染最少。
由于地理来源可能影响污染风险,为保护人类健康，进口国应加强对来自黄曲霉生长环境适宜或监管较宽松国家的坚果中AF的监测。
