aflatoxin
Naturally Occuring Hazards: Aflatoxin
Aflatoxin is a naturally occurring mycotoxin produced by three types of mold: Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus parasiticus, and Asperilligus nomius (more rare). Aspergillus flavus is common and widespread in nature and is most often found when certain grains are grown under stressful conditions such as drought. The mold occurs in soil, decaying vegetation, hay, and grains undergoing microbiological deterioration and invades all types of organic substrates whenever and wherever the conditions are favorable for its growth. Favorable conditions include high moisture content and high temperature, though growth can occur at quite low moisture levels and a broad range of temperature (13-37 degrees Celcius). At least 13 different types of aflatoxin are produced in nature with aflatoxin B1 considered as the most toxic. While the presence of Aspergillus flavus does not always indicate harmful levels of aflatoxin it does mean that the potential for aflatoxin production is present. Aflatoxin is probably the most well-known mycotoxin, besides trichothecene, and the most researched. This is because aflatoxins are very toxic and highly carcinogenic. How badly a person is affected by aflatoxin mycotoxins depends on things like the person 's age, gender, level of exposure, duration of exposure, health, strength of their immune system, diet and environmental factors. There are two main ways people are usually exposed to aflatoxins. The first is when someone takes in a high amount of aflatoxins in a very short time. This can cause liver damage, liver cancer, mental impairment, abdominal pain, vomiting, convulsions, edema, hemorrhaging, disruption food digestion/absorption/metabolism, coma, and death. The liver is the principal organ affected, but high levels of aflatoxin have also been found in the lungs, kidneys, brains and hearts of individuals dying of acute aflatoxicosis. Acute necrosis and cirrhosis of the liver is typical, along
Aflatoxin is a naturally occurring mycotoxin produced by three types of mold: Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus parasiticus, and Asperilligus nomius (more rare). Aspergillus flavus is common and widespread in nature and is most often found when certain grains are grown under stressful conditions such as drought. The mold occurs in soil, decaying vegetation, hay, and grains undergoing microbiological deterioration and invades all types of organic substrates whenever and wherever the conditions are favorable for its growth. Favorable conditions include high moisture content and high temperature, though growth can occur at quite low moisture levels and a broad range of temperature (13-37 degrees Celcius). At least 13 different types of aflatoxin are produced in nature with aflatoxin B1 considered as the most toxic. While the presence of Aspergillus flavus does not always indicate harmful levels of aflatoxin it does mean that the potential for aflatoxin production is present. Aflatoxin is probably the most well-known mycotoxin, besides trichothecene, and the most researched. This is because aflatoxins are very toxic and highly carcinogenic. How badly a person is affected by aflatoxin mycotoxins depends on things like the person 's age, gender, level of exposure, duration of exposure, health, strength of their immune system, diet and environmental factors. There are two main ways people are usually exposed to aflatoxins. The first is when someone takes in a high amount of aflatoxins in a very short time. This can cause liver damage, liver cancer, mental impairment, abdominal pain, vomiting, convulsions, edema, hemorrhaging, disruption food digestion/absorption/metabolism, coma, and death. The liver is the principal organ affected, but high levels of aflatoxin have also been found in the lungs, kidneys, brains and hearts of individuals dying of acute aflatoxicosis. Acute necrosis and cirrhosis of the liver is typical, along
References: http://www.apsnet.org/edcenter/intropp/topics/Mycotoxins/Pages/Aflatoxins.aspx http://www.icrisat.org/aflatoxin/aflatoxin.asp http://www.mycotoxins.info/myco_info/science_moa.html