Determination of Aflatoxin <scp> M ₁ </scp> , Organochlorine Pesticides, and Heavy Metals in Raw Milk of Iran

The current study aimed to investigate aflatoxin M₁ (AFM₁), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), and heavy metals (Cd, As, Pb, Hg) in raw milk (50 samples) from Milk Company, Shahrekord Province, Iran. Therefore, AFM₁, OCPs, and heavy metals including Pb, Cd, As, and Hg were analyzed by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), and Graphite Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry, respectively. According to the results, AFM₁ in all milk samples was lower than the maximum limits set by Codex Alimentarius Commission (0.05 μg/kg), Iranian Standard (100 ng/L), and European Union standard (0.05 μg/kg). The AFM₁ in milk samples varied from 1 < to 92 ng/L and 1 < to 27 ng/L in spring and summer seasons, respectively. The concentrations of OCPs in all milk samples were lower than standard limits. According to the results, α-HCH, β-HCH, γ-HCH varied from > 0.01-0.03 and > 0.01, > 0.02-0.04 and > 0.01-0.011, and > 0.01-0.02 and > 0.01-0.013 mg/kg in spring and summer respectively. DDE, DDD, and DDT varied from lower than 0.005 mg/kg (>LOD) to 0.013 mg/kg (<i>p</i> > 0.05). The mean concentration of Pb, Cd, As, and Hg in spring and summer was 0.007 and 0.014 mg/L, 0.011 and 0.005 mg/L, 0.008 and 0.011 mg/L, 0.002 and 0.002 mg/L, respectively. The study confirmed that AFM₁, OCPs, and heavy metal residues in milk samples were within safe limits set by regulatory authorities, with slight seasonal variations. Although contamination levels were low, ongoing surveillance is essential to ensure dairy safety and minimize potential health risks.