Aflatoxins in Rice Imported to Bushehr, A Southern Port of Iran

3 Abstract: Aflatoxins (B , B , G and G ) levels were surveyed in rice samples imported to Iran through a southern 121 2 port in Bushehr. Aflatoxin analysis was performed by solvent extraction, immunoaffinity clean-up and determination using high performance liquid chromatography equipped with post-column photochemical reactor and fluorescence detector. Among 152 samples analyzed, 75 % showed levels of aflatoxin B (AFB ) 11 contamination. However, there was no sample with AFB above maximum tolerated level (MTL) of 5 ng/g 1 assigned by Institute of Standard and Industrial Research of Iran (ISIRI). AFB concentrations in the samples 1 was 0.09-3.3 ng/g. Out of 152 samples analyzed, about 76.97% were contaminated with total aflatoxin (AFT) with the mean of 0.671 ng/g which is lower than MTL of AFT in rice (30 ng/g) assigned by (ISIRI). AFT concentration ranged from 0.15-4.27 ng/g. Contamination of aflatoxins in imported rice was dissimilar between different months. The highest levels of AFB and AFT were detected in rice samples imported in 1 September, while the lowest levels were in rice imported during November.