Aflatoxin M1 prevalence in breast milk in Morocco: Associated factors and health risk assessment of newborns “CONTAMILK study”

The aim of this study was to assess the contamination of breast milk by aflatoxin M1 among nursing mothers from Rabat, Morocco, and to explore its association with several maternal parameters and dietary habits. In addition, the health risk assessment of the newborns by the estimation of the daily intake. A competitive Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay method was used for the analysis of aflatoxin M1 in breast milk samples. Analytical results indicate that out of 82 total samples, 43 samples (52.4%) of milk were positive. Aflatoxin M1 levels ranged from undetectable to 13.33 ng/L, while the mean level was 5.75 ± 3.44 ng/L. Besides, several factors and foodstuffs seem to increase the level of AFM1 in breast milk. As regards the estimated daily intake of aflatoxin M1, it varies between immeasurable and a maximum of 1.16 ng/kg.bw. The degree of exposure to AFB1 and the levels of its metabolite AFM1 in breast milk were low, compared to some studies from other countries. Further investigations and periodic monitoring programs are recommended in large samples and in many cities of morocco to assess the level of exposure of the Moroccan population. •The first survey to assess aflatoxin M1 in Moroccan human milk.•Aflatoxin M1 was detected in 52.4% of total Moroccan breast milk samples.•All concentrations were below the limit of 25 ng/L set by the European Union.•Several foodstuffs seem to increase the level of aflatoxin M1 in breast milk.