Aflatoxin essays

Aflatoxin essays Aflatoxins are toxic carcinogens that are produced by fungi on crops or in feed. Aflatoxin is more than likely the most researched fungus because of the horrible effects it has on crops, animals, and humans. The fungus occurs when environmental conditions are abnormal, such as a drought or an insect infestation. There are many ways to prevent the growth of aflatoxin and to test for it once the fungus has infected the crops. Aflatoxin is a carcinogenic fungus that affects many living things including crops, animals, and humans. Aflatoxin spores are carried by wind, insects, and many other things, to the developing kernels. They infect the kernels by germinating on the silks and growing into the developing kernels. The fungus usually appears as a yellow-green or brownish spore mass and occurs most frequently on the tips of the ears. Depending on the amount of fungus in the crop, the grain may be used for food or feed. Otherwise, the corn would have to be destroyed (Stack). The chance of animals being affected by aflatoxin varies depending on species, age, sex, and nutrition. Some of the diseases that aflatoxin has been known to cause in animals are liver damage, decreased milk and egg production, and immunity suppression to infections (Aflatoxins 4). The presence of cancer has also been found in many animals due to aflatoxin contamination. Humans are exposed to aflatoxins by eating foods with products of fungal growth. Exposure is difficult to avoid because most fungal growth in foods is not easy to prevent. Acute aflatoxicosis in humans has been reported from many parts of the world, namely the Third World Countries, like Taiwan, Uganda, and India. The disease is characterized by vomiting, abdominal pain, pulmonary edema, convulsions, coma, and death. The conditions that increase the likelihood of this disease include limited availability of food, environmental conditions that favor fungal develop...