Determination of aflatoxin contamination in sunflower and soybeanseeds used for edible oil production

Oilseeds, due to their high nutritional value and wide range of applications, are among the most significant agricultural commodities. However, under improper harvesting and storage conditions, they become highly susceptible to mycotoxin contamination. Among these toxins, aflatoxins (AFs), primarily produced by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, are the most prevalent and hazardous in oilseed matrices. AFs pose a serious public health risk, particularly due to their hepatotoxic, immunosuppressive, and carcinogenic properties. In 2022, a total of 82 samples, including 41 sunflower seeds and 41 soybean seeds, collected from an edible oil production facility in Çorum, Turkey, were analyzed for aflatoxins using highperformance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In the sunflower matrix, the limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) were determined to be 0.083 µg/kg and 0.277 µg/kg for AFB1, 0.071 µg/kg and 0.238 µg/kg for AFB2, 0.081 µg/kg and 0.271 µg/kg for AFG1, and 0.073 µg/kg and 0.243 µg/kg for AFG2, respectively. In the soybean matrix, the LOD and LOQ values were 0.079 µg/kg and 0.264 µg/kg for AFB1, 0.072 µg/kg and 0.241 µg/kg for AFB2, 0.080 µg/kg and 0.267 µg/kg for AFG1, and 0.070 µg/kg and 0.234 µg/kg for AFG2. Among the analyzed sunflower seed samples, AFB1 was detected in only two samples at concentrations of 2.65 µg/kg and 10.4 µg/kg. AFB2 and AFG1 were detected in a single sample at levels of 0.617 µg/kg and 0.200 µg/kg, respectively, while AFG2 was not detected in any sample. In soybean seeds, AFB1 was found in three samples, with concentrations ranging from 0.096 µg/kg to 1.51 µg/kg. AFB2, AFG1, and AFG2 were not detected in any soybean sample. The occurrence rates of AFs in sunflower and soybean seeds intended for vegetable oil production were 4.88% and 7.32%, respectively. These findings suggest that the AF contamination levels in the analyzed raw materials were not of significant concern. Nevertheless, the routine screening of oilseed raw materials such as sunflower and soybean remains essential to minimize the potential aflatoxin risk in the final products.