Evaluation of aflatoxin content in pistachio, almond, hazelnut and walnut in Isfahan

Aflatoxins are, a group of closely related carcinogenic metabolites produced by certain species of Aspergillus. The objective of this study was to detect the level of aflatoxins in nuts. A total of 80 samples of nuts including, pistachio (20), almond (20), hazelnut (20) and walnut (20) were collected analyzed for AFB and AFG  in Isfahan in 2016 using HPLC. The aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, G2 and Total were found in 2.5%, 5.5%, 5.7%,7.2%, and 10% of the analyzed sample by an average concentration of 8.32, 5.635, 3.067, 1.705 and 10.375 ppb, respectively. The concentration of AFB1 in 66.67% and the concentration of AFT in 37.5%  from positive samples Iran were higher standard (5ppm). The percentage of pistachio AF-positive nuts samples was significantly (p<0.05) more than other nuts (almond, hazelnut and walnut). The results showed that contamination of nuts especially pistachio to aflatoxins not good and can compromising consumer health.