The measurement and estimation of carcinogenicity risk of of Ochratoxin A in Some Fruit Products

Abstract

Introduction and purpose: Ochratoxin A (OTA) is one of the most toxic mycotoxins. This study aimed to measure OTA in some fruit products and estimate its carcinogenicity risk for the consumers. Methods: This study included 102 samples of fruit products, including peach and apricot leather, half-dried apricot, whole-dried apricot (Qaisi), and dried unpitted prunes (Bokhara) gathered from Hamadan, Iran. Subsequently, the OTA level of the samples was determined using ELISA, and the carcinogenic risk was calculated in this study. The detection limit of the ELISA kit was obtained at 0.5 µg/kg according to the manufacture’s guideline. Results: The OTA range was obtained from 3.92 to 7.22 μg/kg in this study. Out of 102 samples of the fruit products, 31 samples were contaminated by OTA, and the contamination level in 4 samples exceeded the Iranian standard limit (10 μg/kg). Moreover, there was a significant difference among the samples regarding the mean contamination level (P<0.05). In all samples, the mean OTA level was significantly lower than the Iranian standard limit (P<0.05). Depending on the type of the examined fruit product, the estimated daily intake of the OTA in children and adults were within the range of 3.36×10-5-4.35×10-4 and 4.70×10-5-6.09×10-4 µg/kg, respectively. Considering the OTA concentration and per capita consumption of fruit products, the carcinogenicity risk caused by these products was negligible. Conclusion: In total, the mean OTA of the fruit products was significantly lower than the Iranian standard limit (P<0.05). In addition, based on the results of the carcinogenicity assessment, it can be concluded that the consumption of the fruit products results in no carcinogenic risk for the consumers.

Keywords

• carcinogenic risk
• elisa
• estimated daily intake
• fruit
• ochratoxin a