Table 4.
Occurrence of aflatoxins (AFs; AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, and AFG2) in wheat samples collected from different areas of Pakistan.a
| Toxins | Tested samples (n) | Positive samples, n (%) | No. and percentage of samples in concentration range (μg/kg) | Mean ± SD (μg/kg) | Range (μg/kg) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| ||||||||
| <LODb | ≤2 | 2–4c | ≥4d | |||||
| AFB1 | 185 | 48 (26.0) | 137 (74.0) | 26 (14.0) | 17 (9.2) | 5 (2.7) | 0.51 ± 0.32 | 0.05–4.78 |
| AFB2 | 13 (7.0) | 172 (93.0) | 13 (7.0) | 0 | 0 | 0.02 ± 0.08 | 0.02–0.48 | |
| AFG1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| AFG2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total AFs | 48 (26.0) | 137 (74.0) | 26 (14.0) | 17 (9.2) | 5 (2.7) | 0.53 ± 0.40 | 0.02–5.26 | |
LOD = limit of detection; SD = standard deviation.
a
All measurements were made in triplicate and reported as mean ± SD.
b
Below the limit of detection.
c
As per European Union standard (≤4 μg/kg).
d
Below the Food and Drug Administration, Food and Agriculture Organization, and Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority maximum tolerated level (≤20 μg/kg).