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Mycotoxins can appear in the food chain as a result of fungal infection of crops, either by being eaten directly by humans or by being used as livestock feed. In 2004 in Kenya, 125 people died and nearly 200 others required medical treatment after eating aflatoxin -contaminated maize. [ 34 ]
T-2 mycotoxin is a trichothecene mycotoxin. It is a naturally occurring mold byproduct of Fusarium spp. fungus which is toxic to humans and other animals. The clinical condition it causes is alimentary toxic aleukia and a host of symptoms related to organs as diverse as the skin, airway, and stomach.
Alimentary toxic aleukia is a mycotoxin-induced condition characterized by nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, leukopenia (aleukia), hemorrhaging, skin inflammation, and sometimes death. [1] Alimentary toxic aleukia almost always refers to the human condition associated with presence of T-2 Toxin. [1]
Mycotoxicology is the branch of mycology that focuses on analyzing and studying the toxins produced by fungi, known as mycotoxins. [1] In the food industry it is important to adopt measures that keep mycotoxin levels as low as practicable, especially those that are heat-stable.
Many countries monitor Fusarium mycotoxins in grain to limit negative health effects. In the U.S. there are advisory levels for DON in human food and livestock feed. [7] The European Union has legislative limits for several Fusarium mycotoxins in grain aimed for human consumption [8] repealed by [9] and recommended limits for animal feed. [10]
Even during food processing, there are several procedures that strip foods of their poisons to make them human-friendly. Check out the slideshow above to learn what common edible contains cyanide ...
When such contaminated food is processed or consumed, the aflatoxins enter the general food supply. They have been found in both pet and human foods, as well as in feedstocks for agricultural animals. Animals fed contaminated food can pass aflatoxin transformation products into milk, milk products, and meat. [2]
The consumption of OTA is found to have neurotoxic, immunosuppressive, genotoxic, carcinogenic and teratogenic effects in humans. [7] Toxicological studies have shown OTA to have strong carcinogenic mycotoxin effects on the liver and kidney of humans. [30] Renal failure in human subjects have been reported after the inhalation of OTA. [31]