Screening of the aflatoxin M-1 metabolite in urine samples of residents in Terengganu, Malaysia

A study was conducted to screen the occurrence and level of aflatoxin M-1 (AFM(1)) in urine samples of 206 urban and rural residents in Terengganu, Malaysia. The level of AFM(1) was quantified by competitive enzyme-linked immune-absorbent assay (ELISA). Of the 206 samples, 84 were positive for AFM(1) (40.8%) in a range of 0.07-5.53 ng/ml (mean = 0.589 ng/ml). Residents of Terengganu are moderately exposed to AFM(1). Age, ethnicity, marital status and employment status were associated with urinary level of AFM(1). Subjects aged 30 years and above, non-Malays, married, and those unemployed had significantly higher levels of urinary AFM(1) (p < 0.05). Since aflatoxin is recognised as a potent-carcinogen for liver cancer and a continuous exposure to this toxin can be fatal, the present findings could provide a baseline for future studies where larger samples and more advanced techniques might be used to find the possible effects of the exposure of this toxin on the community's health.