Use of ultraviolet energy to degrade aflatoxin M1 in raw or heated milk with and without added peroxide.

Raw whole milk was artificially contaminated to contain 1 ppb aflatoxin M1. A thin layer of milk (.1 cm) was irradiated with ultraviolet energy. In the first experiment, milk was held at 90 degrees C for 10 min, cooled to 20 degrees C, and irradiated for 30 min. Amount of aflatoxin M1 decreased equally (56.2 vs. 53.9%) in raw or preheated milk, suggesting no involvement of milk enzymes in degrading aflatoxin M1 by ultraviolet energy. Data obtained when raw milk containing aflatoxin M1 was exposed to ultraviolet energy for 15 to 60 min suggest first order kinetics for the degradation reaction. In another experiment, milk was held at 5, 25, or 65 degrees C while it was being irradiated. Aflatoxin M1 was degraded at all temperatures. Amount of toxin decreased nonlinearly when temperature at which milk was held was increased. Presence in milk of benzoyl peroxide at .002% did not change the extent to which aflatoxin M1 was degraded by irradiation. Amount of toxin, however, decreased by 89.1% in milk containing .05% H2O2 as compared with 60.7% for H2O2-free milk when both were exposed to ultraviolet irradiation for 20 min at 25 degrees C.