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In our daily lives, many foods seem safe, but they can harbor fatal dangers.Aflatoxins are toxic substances produced by specific molds, mainly Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus.According to USDA research, these toxins are one of the most widely studied mycotoxins in the world, and their carcinogenicity has been widely agreed in the scientific community.
These molds not only grow on soil and rotten plants, but also appear in many staple foods and commodities such as corn, peanuts and coffee, and even meat and dairy products may be affected.
After ingestion, aflatoxin enters the human body, will be converted into active metabolites through the liver, affecting genes, and increasing the risk of liver cancer development.Especially for children, aflatoxin can cause a series of problems such as immunosuppression, slow growth and delayed development. The latest research points out that there is a certain relationship between growth restriction in children and exposure to aflatoxin.
The source and contamination conditions of aflatoxin
Aflatoxin is mainly found in soil and some organic materials. This type of mold is prone to breed in high humidity environments, especially before crop harvest or during storage.As global climate change intensifies, this problem may become more serious, leading to the widening of the pollution of aflatoxins.Most cereals and edible crops such as wheat, rice and various types of nuts can be contaminated.
According to research, corn and other grains are extremely susceptible to aflatoxin contamination under improper drying and storage conditions.In addition, places where organic crops are produced often face higher risks of pollution due to the lack of pesticides.
Strategies for preventing and treating aflatoxin
In order to reduce the risk of aflatoxins in food, the commercial supply chain must strengthen food hygiene, eliminate moldy grains for processing, and conduct aflatoxin content testing when mixing materials.The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sets safety restrictions on yellow aspergillin in food and feed, usually between 20 and 300 ppb.
The Effect of Aflatoxin
Although the body of an adult is highly tolerant to aflatoxin exposure, it can still be harmed, especially after frequent exposure to foods containing high concentrations of aflatoxin.The most obvious effect of aflatoxin is acute liver necrosis and may lead to the development of liver cancer.This situation remains in today's society, especially in areas where food supply is not properly managed.
The effects of aflatoxins are mainly directed at the liver and cause liver diseases. Therefore, research on these toxins is crucial.Continuous exposure may lead to higher cancer risk.
How to detect exposure of aflatoxin
There are currently two main methods to detect aflatoxin levels in the human body. The first is to measure AFB1-guanosine adduct in urine, which indicates contact over the past 24 hours.Although this approach can show recent exposure, it is not suitable for evaluating long-term exposure.The second method is to measure the AFB1-albumin adduct in the serum, which better reflects the exposure status of the past few weeks or months.
Case Review and Future Outlook
In history, many countries have experienced an outbreak related to aflatoxin.For example, the ‘X’ disease incident in the UK in 1960 was caused by toxins in food to cause large-scale deaths in chickens.With the advancement of science and technology, the detection and prevention and control of aflatoxins have been gradually strengthened, but according to the latest research data, there are still high-risk exposures in some areas.
As the global food supply chain changes, this issue cannot be ignored.However, will aflatoxin become a stumbling block to our future health still need to be overcome together globally?
While we enjoy food, should we also think about the hidden health risks behind it and increase the public's awareness and prevention of these potential threats?
