Aflatoxin Levels In Groundnut And Maize Crops And Risk Assessment Based On Consumption In Ghana

Abstract

Aflatoxins are a type of mycotoxins that contribute to about 25% loss of annual crop production worldwide. Significant human exposure to aflatoxins is associated with detrimental health implications. Thus, the extensive presence of aflatoxins in food and feed poses a huge threat to public health in many countries in Africa including Ghana. Staples foods such as groundnut and maize are highly susceptible to aflatoxin contamination. Despite their broad exposure, research on aflatoxins in food and exposure to the population is limited and mostly restricted to exported foods. This exposes millions of people to potentially acute or chronic amounts of aflatoxins. In this work, the concentrations of aflatoxins AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, and AFG2 level in 303 samples, including 165 samples of maize and 138 samples of groundnut, obtained from homes, markets, and storage centres in eight regions of Ghana was carried out. The samples were analyzed by extracting aflatoxin with methanol/water, cleaned up on an immunoaffinity column and analysed using Reverse-Phase High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (RP-HPLC) with fluorescence detection. Based on the data obtained, aflatoxins were quantified in 80.6% of the maize samples with levels ranging from 0.20 to 1129.7 μg/kg. The quantified levels of aflatoxins in groundnut samples ranged from 0.20 to 1242.9 μg/kg, with an occurrence of 73.9% in samples. Total aflatoxins were present in more than 50% of maize and 26% of groundnut samples at concentrations that exceeded the Ghanaian standard of 10 μg/kg. The study suggests that the Ghanaian population may be exposed to aflatoxins at significant concentrations, given that, the values obtained in this study represent some of the highest levels and prevalence recorded in the country. This study provides useful data for policy decision-making on the prioritization of aflatoxin as a significant food safety concern in Ghana.