Quantifying Picogram Concentrations of Aflatoxin M1 in Liquid Milk

using SPE Cleanup and LC/MS Analysis

Introduction

Aflatoxins are produced by fungi of the Aspergillus genus. Of several aflatoxin producing species, two are widely studied due to their importance to agriculture and medicine: Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus.¹ These species infect important cereal grains, including maize, as well as ground (peanuts) and tree nuts. When infected, such commodities may become contaminated with aflatoxins and may subsequently be introduced into products routinely used in human and animal nutrition.^2,3 When ingested, these toxins have the potential to impact animal, and especially, human health.^4,5 They have been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as group 1 carcinogens, that is, compounds known to be carcinogenic in humans.⁶ Their target organ is the liver where they are thought to interfere with regulatory elements of DNA function.⁷ The most biologically active aflatoxin is aflatoxin B1 (AFB1).⁴ A recent risk assessment determined that aflatoxins may be implicated in 4.6-28.2% of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) worldwide.⁸