Mycotoxins and health risks
Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif vir Natuurwetenskap en Tegnologie/South African Journal of Science and Technology
| Field | Value | |
| Title | Mycotoxins and health risks Mikotoksiene en gesondheidsrisiko’s | |
| Creator | Thiel, P. G. | |
| Description | Fungal contamination of agricultural products can prove to be harmful to humans and domestic animals as these fungi produce a variety of mycotoxins which can eventually occur in food. Acute intoxications with mycotoxins occur regularly in farm animals but, fortunately, are infrequently observed in humans. However, the chronic exposure of humans to mycotoxins occurs regularly. Such exposures are potentially teratogenic and carcmogenic and can suppress the immune system. It is presently impossible to establish safe levels of exposure for most mycotoxins due to scanty epidemiological data and insufficient observations on experimental animals. With respect to aflatoxin all available data point to a real health risk. Risk analysis based on epidemiological observations shows that the liver-cancer risk for individuals in South Africa is potentially increased by continued exposure to the present legally permitted level of aflatoxin in food. Die besmetting van landbouprodukte deur fungi is potensieel gevaarlik vir mens en dier, aangesien fungi ’n verskeidenheid mikotoksiene kan produseer wat in voedsel kan voorkom. Akute vergiftiging deur mikotoksiene kom gereeld by plaasdiere voor, maar word gelukkig selde by mense waargeneem. Die chroniese blootstelling van mense aan mikotoksiene met teratogene en karsinogene asook met ’n immuunsisteemonderdrukkende uitwerking, vind egter voortdurend plaas. Vir die meeste mikotoksiene is daar tans nie voldoende epidemiologiese data of waarnemings by proefdiere beskikbaar om veiiige blootstellingsvlakke vir die mens vas te stel nie. Alle beskikbare data dui egter op die werklike gevare wat aflatoksienblootsteliing vir die menslike gesondheid inhou. Risikobepalings gebaseer op epidemiologiese waarnemings dui daarop dat die lewerkankerrisiko van individue in Suid-Afrika potensieel verhoog word deur die voortdurende blootstelling aan die wetlik toelaatbare vlakke aflatoksien in voedsel. | |
| Publisher | AOSIS | |
| Date | 1986-03-18 | |
| Identifier | 10.4102/satnt.v5i3.991 | |
| Source | Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif vir Natuurwetenskap en Tegnologie; Vol 5, No 3 (1986); 154-156 Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif vir Natuurwetenskap en Tegnologie; Vol 5, No 3 (1986); 154-156 2222-4173 0254-3486 | |
| Language | eng | |
| Relation |
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:
https://journals.satnt.aosis.co.za/index.php/satnt/article/view/991/2050
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