Degradation of Aflatoxin M1 in Milk by Ultraviolet Energy

Abstract

Raw whole milk was artificially contaminated with 0.5 or 1 ppb aflatoxin M1. Contaminated milk was exposed to UV-irradiation from different sources and under different experimental conditions. In all instances, exposure to UV-irradiation caused aflatoxin M1 in milk to degrade. The magnitude of degradation (3.6 to 100%) depended on time of exposure (2 to 60 min) of milk to UV-energy, volume of treated milk and design of the experiment. Presence of hydrogen peroxide (1%) in milk greatly enhanced degradation (100% in 10 min) of aflatoxin M1 by UV-irradiation.