MANAGEMENT OF AFLATOXIN CONTAMINATED MAIZE IN TAMAULIPAS, MEXICO

A rural warehousing facility in the state of Tamaulipas in Mexico stor ed aflatoxin contaminated maize from 1989 to 1995; its control require d national efforts. The aflatoxin contaminated maize was analyzed chem ically by immunoaffinity columns, fluorometry, and thin layer chromato graphy in grain, weeds, and soil of the warehouse ''Las Yescas''. Morp hological and tributyrine biochemistry tests were done to identify spe cies of Aspergillus in grain, weeds, and soil, and mainly A. flavus wa s found. The average levels of total aflatoxin found were 66 mu g/kg f rom 42 samples of sieved maize, 295 mu g/kg from 49 samples of not sie ved maize, 25 mu g/kg from seven weed samples, and 112 mu g/kg from ni ne soil samples. Sieving reduced the aflatoxin by 75%. Soil always pre sented AFB(2), and sometimes AFB(1), due to the high contamination.