RESUMO: O amendoim é um alimento nutritivo e muito consumido no mundo todo. Algumas espécies de fungos do gênero Aspergillus, produtores de aflatoxinas, colonizam o amendoim. A exposição humana as aflatoxinas ocorre por meio do consumo de alimentos contaminados. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a ocorrência e exposição da população as aflatoxinas em amendoim comercializado no município de Maringá, Brasil, durante o período de maio de 2013 a abril de 2017. Foram avaliadas 104 amostras de amendoim por análise cromatográfica e confirmadas por derivação com ácido trifluoroacético. A frequência de contaminação foi de 24,0% em concentração média de 13,4µg/kg. Vinte amostras positivas (19,2%) apresentaram-se acima do limite máximo permitido no Brasil para a somatória das quatro aflatoxinas. A ingestão diária provável média encontrada foi de 1,28µg/kg peso corpóreo/dia, superando a ingestão diária máxima tolerável provisória (0,001µg/kg peso corpóreo/dia). De acordo com os elevados teores de aflatoxinas encontrados em amendoim, há necessidade de um maior monitoramento da presença de aflatoxinas em alimentos, tendo em vista a redução nos níveis de contaminação do amendoim in natura.

ABSTRACT: Peanuts are a nutritious food consumed worldwide. Some species of the genus Aspergillus, producers of aflatoxins, colonize peanuts. Human exposure to aflatoxins occurs by ingesting contaminated foods. The objective of this paper was to assess the occurrence and dietary exposure of the population to aflatoxins in peanuts commercially available in Maringa, Brazil, from May 2013 to April 2017. A total of 104 peanut samples were evaluated by thin-layer chromatography and confirmed by derivatization with trifluoroacetic acid. The contamination rate detected was 24.0% in average concentration of 13.4µg/kg. Twenty positive samples (19.2%) exceeded the maximum level permitted in Brazil for the sum of four aflatoxins. Estimated probable daily intake was 1,28 µg/kg body weight/day, exceeding the Provisional Maximum Tolerable Daily Intake (0.001μg/kg body weight/day). According to the high levels of aflatoxins found in peanuts, there is need for further monitoring the presence of aflatoxins in peanuts in natura to reduce the levels of contamination.

Abstract Aflatoxins are mutagenic, carcinogenic, and teratogenic mycotoxins. The objective of this work was to study the presence of aflatoxigenic Aspergillus in commercial Bulgur wheat in the city of Maringá, Paraná, Brazil. Thirty samples of commercial Bulgur wheat, acquired in the period of August 2011 to January 2012, were evaluated. The enumeration analysis showed that samples had up to 273.3 CFU of molds and 133.3 CFU of aflatoxigenic Aspergillus per gram of wheat. Forty-two monosporic isolates were obtained and identified as Aspergillus flavus. The isolates were analyzed regarding their aflatoxigenic potential by culture in coconut milk agar; hydroxide vapor exposure; chromatography; and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting genes that code enzymes of the aflatoxins synthesis pathway. Some of the isolates were confirmed to be aflatoxin producers and several of them presented a genetic profile of aflatoxin synthesis. The obtained results demonstrated that Bulgur wheat A. flavus contamination is concerning.