Assessing aflatoxin exposure in the United Arab Emirates (UAE): Biomonitoring AFM1 levels in urine samples and their association with dietary habits

IF 4.2 3区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Environmental toxicology and pharmacology Pub Date : 2025-01-25 DOI:10.1016/j.etap.2025.104644

Shahd Elabed , Raghad Khaled , Nada Farhat , Mohamed Madkour , Shima A. Mohammad Zadeh , Tamer Shousha , Jalal Taneera , Lucy Semerjian , Khaled Abass

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Abstract

Background

Aflatoxins, known for their carcinoginc properties and produced by Aspergillus fungi, pose a substantial threat to public health, particularly in regions with hot and humid climates, where individuals are exposed to these toxins through contaminated food. The primary objective of this study was to assess the extent of aflatoxin exposure in the Emirate of Sharjah employing Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) as a biomarker in urine samples from adult participants. Furthermore, this study aimed to explore the relationship between dietary habits and AFM1 levels in order to establish a potential link.

Methods

In a cross-sectional study design, a total of 144 adults (73 females and 71 males) were recruited for participation. The urine samples obtained from participants were subjected to analysis for AFM1 concentrations utilizing the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Additionally, structured questionnaires were administered to collect information on the dietary and lifestyle habits of the participants. To explore the relationship between dietary factors and AFM1 levels, various statistical analyses, including linear regression and the Mann-Whitney U test, were performed.

Results

AFM1 was detected in 69 % of the samples under invstigation, wherein males exhibited a higher mean level (0.912 ng/mg creatinine) in comparison to females (0.676 ng/mg creatinine). The overall mean concentration of AFM1 was determined to be 0.792 ng/mg creatinine. It is worth noting that there was a significant correlation between rice consumption and heightened AFM1 exposure among males, while no such correlation was observed among females.

Conclusion

This study conducted in the UAE provides novel perspectives on aflatoxin exposure, shedding light on the gender-specific correlation between rice consumption and aflatoxin levels among males. These findings hold significant implications for guiding public health interventions and underscore the pivotal role of ongoing surveillance and stringent food safety regulations in mitigating the hazards associated with aflatoxin contamination.

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来源期刊

Environmental toxicology and pharmacology 医学-毒理学

CiteScore

7.00

自引率

4.70%

发文量

185

审稿时长

34 days

期刊介绍： Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology publishes the results of studies concerning toxic and pharmacological effects of (human and veterinary) drugs and of environmental contaminants in animals and man. Areas of special interest are: molecular mechanisms of toxicity, biotransformation and toxicokinetics (including toxicokinetic modelling), molecular, biochemical and physiological mechanisms explaining differences in sensitivity between species and individuals, the characterisation of pathophysiological models and mechanisms involved in the development of effects and the identification of biological markers that can be used to study exposure and effects in man and animals. In addition to full length papers, short communications, full-length reviews and mini-reviews, Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology will publish in depth assessments of special problem areas. The latter publications may exceed the length of a full length paper three to fourfold. A basic requirement is that the assessments are made under the auspices of international groups of leading experts in the fields concerned. The information examined may either consist of data that were already published, or of new data that were obtained within the framework of collaborative research programmes. Provision is also made for the acceptance of minireviews on (classes of) compounds, toxicities or mechanisms, debating recent advances in rapidly developing fields that fall within the scope of the journal.