Abstract
This study aimed to assess the occurrence and health risk of aflatoxins (AF) in rice imported to Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Rice samples (n=41) including long grain white rice (LGW), short grain white rice (SGW) and long grain yellow rice (LGY) were analysed using high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Accordingly, the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk for the total population was estimated with regard to individuals positive for the hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg+) and HBsAg-negative individuals. The results of this study indicated that 68% of the samples were contaminated with an average AF concentration of 1.45 +/- 1.57 mu g/kg. The SGW had the highest value of contamination (mean=2.34 mu g/kg) followed by the LGY (1.36 mu g/kg) and the LGW (0.59 mu g/kg). The AF levels in all analysed samples were found to be below the prescribed limit of the KSA regulation (20 mu g/kg), and 1 sample (2.4%) had total AF level higher than European Commission limit (4 mu g/kg). However, estimation of the chronic effects revealed that the HCC risk was found 0.04 for HBsAg-and 1.04 for HBsAg+ per 105 individuals per year. The margin of exposure was found to be 72 for total AF. The results indicate that consumption of AF contaminated rice imported into Riyadh (KSA) may have public health consequences including risk of HCC, although levels are below the prescribed limit in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia as well as in European Union. This is the first study to investigate the occurrence of AF, and the related health risks, in rice imported to KSA.