Serum aflatoxin levels of the healthy adult population living in the north and south regions of Turkey.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the serum concentrations of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), aflatoxin B2 (AFB2), aflatoxin G1 (AFG1) and aflatoxin G2 (AFG2) in the healthy adult population living in both the Black Sea and Mediterranean regions of Turkey and to investigate the regional, seasonal and gender variability in aflatoxins (AF) exposure in these regions.


METHODS
Serum AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2 concentrations were analysed by HPLC. Settings In total, four hundred and eighty-four serum samples were analysed.


METHODS
Four hundred and eighty-four healthy adult volunteers living in rural areas of the Black Sea and Mediterranean regions of Turkey were studied.


RESULTS
The mean serum concentration of total AF in the Black Sea region was 1·33 ppb (min-max 0·15-3·38 ppb) and 0·90 ppb (min-max 0·18-2·48 ppb) for summer and winter, respectively. In the Mediterranean region, the mean serum concentration of total AF was determined as 0·55 ppb (range 0·04-1·72 ppb) for summer and 0·45 ppb (range 0·12-1·43 ppb) for winter. The total AF concentrations in serum samples were statistically higher in summer compared with winter for the two regions. The differences between the regions were statistically significant concerning all samples, with higher total AF concentrations in the Black Sea region.


CONCLUSIONS
The overall results suggest that the Turkish population living in these two regions is continuously exposed to AF, particularly in the summer, and that mycotoxin contamination in food should be monitored routinely for food safety and human health.
1Faculty of Pharmacy,Department of Pharmaceutical Toxicology,Hacettepe University,06100,Sihhiye,Ankara,Turkey.
Sevtap
S
Aydin
1Faculty of Pharmacy,Department of Pharmaceutical Toxicology,Hacettepe University,06100,Sihhiye,Ankara,Turkey.
Suna
S
Sabuncuoglu
1Faculty of Pharmacy,Department of Pharmaceutical Toxicology,Hacettepe University,06100,Sihhiye,Ankara,Turkey.
Pinar
P
Erkekoglu
2Faculty of Pharmacy,Department of Pharmaceutical Toxicology,East Mediterranean University,Famagusta,Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Gönül
G
Sahin
1Faculty of Pharmacy,Department of Pharmaceutical Toxicology,Hacettepe University,06100,Sihhiye,Ankara,Turkey.
Belma Kocer
BK
Giray
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016604:Aflatoxin B1 / Q000097:blood*; D000348:Aflatoxins / Q000097:blood*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis; D005516:Food Microbiology; D059022:Food Safety; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019083:Mediterranean Region; D008875:Middle Aged; D012424:Rural Population; D012621:Seasons; D014421:Turkey; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult
D000348:Aflatoxins; C027955:aflatoxin G1; C029754:aflatoxin G2; C029753:aflatoxin B2; D016604:Aflatoxin B1