Aflatoxins are secondary toxic mold metabolites produced by Aspergillus. The techniques of immunoassay (ELISA) and thin layer chromatography (TLC) were used for the determination of total aflatoxins in foodstuffs produced with maize and commercialized in Brazil, between April 2003 and March 2004. One hundred and twenty-three samples of foodstuffs produced with maize were analized. Seven of which were positive in TLC and 16 in ELISA. The average of total aflatoxin found in samples using TLC was 0.62 µg/kg (µg.kg-1), while using ELISA was 0.78 µg/kg (µg.kg-1). The results presented significant differences between ELISA and TLC (T=12, p=0.0469). The data demonstrate low occurence of aflatoxins in the maize products analysed. Despite this, Average Probable Daily Intake (APDI) of AFB1 was above Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI), indicating a risk of liver carcinogenicity for Brazilian population due to the consumption of maize products. The ELISA method revealed to be simple, fast, and uses less organic solvent, however, it presented positive and negative presumptive results, what makes necessary the confirmation of the mycotoxins identity by TLC.
mycotoxins; aflatoxins; ELISA; thin-layer chromatography; risk assessment
