ISLAMABAD: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has said it has developed an innovative nuclear technique with its partners to detect deadly and carcinogenic aflatoxins in pistachios faster, cheaper, and more effectively to make the popular nut safer for consumption worldwide.

The technique is being applied by more and more countries, the UN agency said in its weekly report.

Today, pistachios are more popular than ever, with top producers including Iran, the US and Turkiye. As demand for pistachios rises, with over one million tonnes produced globally in 2022, so does concern over aflatoxins, chemical compounds produced by mold that can contaminate crops. Aflatoxins were discovered in 1960 and are classified as carcinogens, with long-term exposure linked to liver failure and tumours.

“It is faster, cheaper and doesn’t require an entire lab,” said Christina Vlachou, head of the IAEA Food Safety and Control Laboratory (FSCL). “That means it can be used in the field, even during emergencies, and in countries that need it most.”

Innovative nuclear technique offers cheaper, faster screening

The experts in FSCL, located in Seibersdorf, Austria, successfully compiled a toolbox to detect aflatoxins in low-resource settings.

The technique employs electrical conductors made from ceramic that are printed with carbon-based ink and contain a sensor to detect four different types of aflatoxins.

When the sensor is inserted into a device called a Potentiostat, it sends a small electrical signal when aflatoxins are present, which can then be recorded using a mobile phone.

The method is sensitive enough to detect aflatoxins at concentrations 150 times lower than the allowed limit, according to the IAEA.

The method has been cross-validated with a confirmatory technique — the liquid chromatograph — tandem mass spectrometry.

The pistachio’s shell protects it from external contamination. But during ripening, this shell splits open, exposing it to moulds and insects, increasing the risk of aflatoxin formation and contamination.

Aflatoxins are generally invisible to the naked eye, but visible signs of mould on pistachios can include black or grey and black lesions or spots on the hulls or kernels.

Conventional testing for these toxins is expensive, time-consuming and requires highly skilled technicians and costly equipment.

The IAEA warned climate change is expected to accelerate the spread of contaminants like aflatoxins.

Published in Dawn, August 3rd, 2025