Human Health Risk Associated with the Consumption of Aflatoxins in Popcorn

Autor: V.J. Robles-Olvera, Magda Carvajal-Moreno, Tomás Morales-Moo, Estela Hernández-Camarillo, M.A. Salgado-Cervantes, Manuel Vargas-Ortiz
Rok vydání: 2020
Předmět:
Zdroj: Risk Management and Healthcare Policy. 13:2583-2591
ISSN: 1179-1594
Popis: Introduction Aflatoxins are secondary metabolites produced mainly by the molds Aspergillus flavus, A. parasiticus and A. nomius, and they contaminate cereals, dry fruits, oilseeds and spices. Aflatoxins have harmful effects in animals and humans, inducing vomiting, diarrhea, hepatitis, cirrhosis, immunosuppression, miscarriages, mutagenic and teratogenic effects, resulting in different cancers. Popcorn (Zea mays everta) is a cereal susceptible to aflatoxin contamination, and there are no reports about the risk of its consumption. Purpose A study on the incidence and consumption of aflatoxins in popcorn marketed in the city of Veracruz, Mexico was conducted and evaluated to carry out a risk assessment for human health. Methods To obtain popcorn, a random sampling in 30 places was done. Frequency of consumption was obtained with informed consent of participants of 253 surveys that considered gender (56% women and 44% men), age (13 less than 18 years, 218 older than 18 years and 22 older than 60 years) and the average body weight, which was 65.5 kg for women and 72.7 kg for men. Results Aflatoxins were found in 47% of the 30 samples. The estimated daily consumption among women was 21 g of popcorn daily with 2.8 ng kg-1 body weight aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and 18.29 ng kg-1 body weight total aflatoxins, and for men, the values were 3.0 ng kg-1 body weight AFB1, and 16.0 ng kg-1 body weight of total AF; 1 ng kg-1 body weight is recommended as the tolerance limit by the JECFA (2001). Conclusion The highest liver cancer risk was detected in men population under 18 years of age, with 0.137 cases in 100,000 persons. The results show that 9.5% of the consumers of AFB1-contaminated popcorn are at risk, and 52.2% are at risk for total aflatoxin exposure. Popcorn is accessible to children with lower weight, increasing the risk.
Databáze: OpenAIRE