title: Efficacy of ozone as a fungicidal and detoxifying agent of aflatoxins in peanuts.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Peanut contamination by fungi is a concern of processors and consumers owing to the association of these micro-organisms with quality deterioration and aflatoxin production. In this study the fungicidal and detoxifying effects of ozone on aflatoxins in peanuts was investigated. Peanut kernels were ozonated at concentrations of 13 and 21 mg L⁻¹ for periods of 0, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ozone was effective in controlling total fungi and potentially aflatoxigenic species in peanuts, with a reduction in colony-forming units per gram greater than 3 log cycles at the concentration of 21 mg L⁻¹ after 96 h of exposure. A reduction in the percentage of peanuts with internal fungal populations was also observed, particularly after exposure to ozone at 21 mg L⁻¹. A reduction in the concentrations of total aflatoxins and aflatoxin B1 of approximately 30 and 25% respectively was observed for kernels exposed to ozone at 21 mg L⁻¹ for 96 h.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was concluded that ozone is an important alternative for peanut detoxification because it is effective in controlling potentially aflatoxigenic fungi and also acts in the reduction of aflatoxin levels in kernels.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Agronomia e Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil. ernandesalencar@unb.br
authors.forename: Ernandes Rodrigues
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: de Alencar
authors.forename: Lêda Rita D'Antonino
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Faroni
authors.forename: Nilda de Fátima Ferreira
authors.initials: Nde F
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: Washington Azevedo
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Marta Cristina da Silva
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Carvalho
mesh_terms: D016604:Aflatoxin B1 / Q000032:analysis; D000348:Aflatoxins / Q000032:analysis*; D010367:Arachis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology*; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D001231:Aspergillus flavus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D001938:Brazil; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005519:Food Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D005659:Fungicides, Industrial / Q000494:pharmacology*; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000187:drug effects; D010126:Ozone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000348:Aflatoxins; D005659:Fungicides, Industrial; D010126:Ozone; D016604:Aflatoxin B1