Development and Validation of a High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometric(LCMS/MS) Method for the Determination of Aflatoxin M1 in Milk and Dairy Products

Many types of mold growing on agricultural products produce toxic substances called mycotoxins. Aflatoxin B1 is the most common, highly toxic, and carcinogenic of them. It is produced by fungi of the Aspergillus genus, which grow on stored grains, seeds, and fruits under hot and humid conditions.

Aflatoxin M1 is the hydroxylated form and toxic metabolite of aflatoxin B1. It is formed in the liver of animals that consume feed contaminated with aflatoxin B1.

Aflatoxin M1 accumulates in the animal’s body and is excreted in milk, posing a risk to the health of the consuming species — humans. Aflatoxin M1 is a strong carcinogen and also causes liver and immune system damage. Because of its high toxicity and hepatocarcinogenic potential, the permissible level of aflatoxin M1 in milk and dairy products is strictly regulated in developed countries, including Georgia.

In Georgia, the maximum allowable limit for aflatoxin M1 is 0.05 µg/kg.

The aim of this study was to develop and validate a chromato-mass spectrometric method for the determination of aflatoxin M1. We have developed and validated a chromato-mass spectrometric method for determining aflatoxin M1 in milk and dairy products.

The limit of qualitative detection of aflatoxin M1 was determined as follows: in milk – 0.003 µg/kg, in fermented milk products – 0.0034 µg/kg, in cheese – 0.0038 µg/kg, in cream – 0.0036 µg/kg.

The limit of quantitative determination of aflatoxin M1 was determined as follows: in milk – 0.03 µg/kg, in fermented milk products – 0.034 µg/kg, in cheese – 0.038 µg/kg, in cream – 0.036 µg/kg.

The obtained results indicate that the selected method meets the requirements established for analytical procedures.