Evaluate the effect of Tropical Climatic Variations of Aflatoxin Occurrence in Basmati Rice

Abstract

A wide variety of local crops and food products contain aflatoxins (AFs), which are food pollutants. The species of Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus create them under favorable conditions, such as high temperature and moisture, and they are extremely poisonous and carcinogenic. The distribution of aflatoxins (AFs) contamination in food commodities varies throughout the year due to specific temperatures and humidity in each month. Therefore, the present study was designed to assess humidity & temperature effects of each month’s Aflatoxins occurrences in rice. In this regard, 120 basmati rice samples were collected from various rice vendors during a different period in 2021 and quantified the AFs contamination using high pressure liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection and Kobra Cell™ Derivatization. About 72% of samples were found contaminated with Aflatoxins, ranging from 0.36–6.35 µgkg^-1 and an average of 1.31 µgkg^-1. Furthermore, in 95% samples contain AFs levels lower than the maximum tolerable limit (MTL = 4 µgkg^-1) as suggested by European Union. Furthermore, 67% samples contained AFs levels ranging from 0.36–4.0 µgkg^-1. However, only 5% samples exhibit AFs contamination ranging between 4.0–6.35 µgkg^-1. Moreover, as per United States (FDA and FAO) and Pakistan (PSQCA) standards, all the samples were below than MTL of 20 µgkg^-1 as. During the entire study, AFs contamination in basmati rice seems to differ monthly due to climatic variations. During the month of July, samples were found highly contaminated (5.15 µgkg^-1), August (6.35 µgkg^-1) and September (4.84 µgkg^-1), as a highly humid condition in these months. It was concluded that in Pakistani rice was found safe for human consumption as the level of AFs is within limits and could be exported to other countries. However, the AFs contamination is highly influenced by climatic conditions.