Detection of aflatoxin M in bovine milk from different agro-climatic zones of Chhattisgarh, India, using HPLC-FLD and assessment of human health risks.

Concerns regarding food safety and 'One Health' are increasing globally. Aflatoxin M (AFM), a human carcinogenic toxin, is excreted by lactating animals in their milk after consumption of feed contaminated with aflatoxin B. The present cross-sectional study aimed to determine the occurrence of AFM in cattle and buffalo milk produced in rural and peri-urban areas under different agro-climatic conditions of Chhattisgarh, India, and assesses human health risks. Analyses of 545 milk samples by validated high-performance liquid chromatography revealed high level of AFM contamination in 224 (41.1%) samples with mean concentration of 0.137 ± 0.029 μg/L. Statistically significant differences (p< 0.05) were observed in the levels and frequency of AFM occurrence among different agro-climatic zones. AFM was more frequently detected in milk samples from Northern hills (64%) followed by Bastar plateau (40.7%) and Chhattisgarh plain (27.3%), with mean concentration levels of 0.396 ± 0.099 μg/L, 0.081 ± 0.025 μg/L and 0.013 ± 0.002 μg/L, respectively. Species wise no significant difference was observed in the detection frequency and concentration of AFM in milk from cattle and buffalo. AFM contamination above maximum permissible limits established by European commission and Food Safety and Standard Authority of India was detected in 21.3% and 4.4% of samples, respectively. The estimated daily intakes for AFM were found to be higher than tolerable daily intakes for both adults and children, especially of Northern hills implying a potentially high risk to consumer's health. This study provides valuable information on the contamination status of milk in one of the fastest developing state of India. It also highlights the importance and need for continuous farmers' awareness on good animal husbandry practices, routine surveillance of mycotoxins in animal feeds and food commodities to safeguard human health.