Assessment of Aflatoxin B₁ Potential Non-Carcinogenic and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Risk Associated with consumption of some Staple Foods across Northeastern Nigeria

Abstract

Aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁ ) remains one of the most potent and widely distributed mycotoxins found in global food systems, especially within warm, humid regions where fungal growth is favourable. It is a toxic secondary metabolite predominantly produced by Aspergillus flavus, a fungus known to contaminate a broad range of agricultural commodities including maize, rice, groundnuts, cereals and other staple foods. This study evaluated Aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁ ) contamination, dietary exposure, margin of exposure (MOE), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk associated with consumption of contaminated maize, millet, cowpea, and peanut across selected areas of Borno and Yobe States, Northeastern Nigeria. Monthly sampling was conducted between November 2024 and February 2025 across major markets, followed by HPLC quantification of AFB₁ and subsequent risk evaluation. Results showed strong seasonal variation, with January exhibiting the highest contamination levels in peanuts with concentration of (69.12 μg/kg) and followed by maize with 27.26 μg/kg. Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) values for both adults and children exceeded the provisional maximum tolerable daily intake (PMTDI) threshold during peak months, while MOE values consistently fell far below the safety benchmark of 10,000, indicating significant public health concern. Potential liver cancer burden estimations also revealed heightened risk, particularly among children in Damaturu and Gashua were found to be the hotspots. Overall, the findings of this study demonstrate significant potential AFB₁ related health risks in northeastern Nigeria, underscoring the urgent need for improving post-harvest handling, storage interventions, stronger regulatory oversight, and public-health risk mitigation strategies, therefore, there is an urgent need for regulatory enforcement on AFB1 limits within food supply chains and strengthen post-harvest drying and storage in Nigeria.