Conference paper

Contamination of Food with Mycotoxins and Human Health

Maja Peraica
Ana-Marija Domijan

Abstract

Mycotoxins are natural contaminants of cereals and other commodities throughout the world. They are produced by various strains of moulds, particularly in tropical countries. Due to significant trade of cereals, humans in temperate countries can also be exposed to mycotoxins. The most common route of exposure to mycotoxins is ingestion, but it may also involve dermal, respiratory, and parenteral routes, the last being associated with drug abuse. Apart from acute and chronic toxic effects on human health called mycotoxicosis, some mycotoxins are proved or suspected human carcinogens. This paper describes various human diseases caused by ergot, aflatoxin, ochratoxin A, 3-nitropropionic acid, trichothecene, zearalenone, and fumonisin. It also gives a quick review of human carcinogenicity evaluations of the International Agency for Research on Cancer and of regulatory limits of mycotoxin concentrations in various commodities.

Keywords

3-nitropropionic acid; aflatoxins; fumonisins; mycotoxicosis; ochratoxin A; trichothecenes; zearalenone

Hrčak ID:

574

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/574

Publication date:

27.4.2001.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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