Just recently the environment ministry organised a sensitisation workshop on the prevention and control of mycotoxins in food and the environment which is affecting the health of Nigerians and the economy at large. HELEN OJI reports.
The prevention and control of mycotoxins in food and the environment is apt and timely, considering the adverse health effects of mycotoxins on Nigerians and the economy.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) asserts that more than one-quarter of the World’s agricultural produce is contaminated with Mycotoxins. The common occurrence and extensive growth of moulds in homes, schools, offices and especially on food and food products poses great risk to human survival.
The low level of knowledge by the public about these moulds and the effects of the metabolites they produce are of great concern and needs to be promptly addressed. Exposure to moulds and their toxic mycotoxins and other metabolites in food and environment has been associated with disorders of the respiratory and central nervous systems to mention but a few. Mycotoxins are poisonous substances produced by fungi a group of organisms that contains moulds, yeasts and mushrooms.
Two closely related species of moulds or fungi are mainly responsible for producing the mycotoxins of public health significance: Fusarium and Aspergillus ( flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus), that produce fumonisins and aflatoxins, respectively.
Several types of aflatoxin (14 or more) occur in nature, but four – aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2 are particularly dangerous to humans and animals. A number of different types of fumonisin are known, but fumonisins B1, B2 and B3 (also named FB1, FB2 and FB3) are the major forms found in food. While aflatoxins are known to cause cancer of the liver in humans, fumonisins are thought to be possible cancer promoters of aflatoxin carcinogenicity.
For fumonisins the evidence for adverse health effects in humans is currently inconclusive but there are concerns they may contribute to various serious adverse health outcomes such as birth defects. There is some evidence and concern that there might be additive or synergistic actions that occur when the two types of mycotoxins are present, potentially increasing carcinogenicity, in particular to cause cancer of the liver in humans.
Fumonisins can also have significant health effects in livestock and other animals and aflatoxins pose a significant economic burden, causing an estimated 25% or more of the world’s food crops to be destroyed annually.
High economic loss
According to the Minister of Environment, Dr. Mohammad Mahood Abubakar, there is high economic loss due to diseases induced by mycotoxins and the continuous rejection of Nigeria food products in the international market.
He stressed that moulds are perhaps the most pressing food quality problems in environments because many of the food and food products are moist organic materials which are subjected to poor methods of food handling and storage. Also worrisome is the dense nature of the population where buildings are more likely to harbour high levels of moulds.
In his words, “The Country is worried about the risk of environmental exposures experienced by those that consume or are exposed to food and food products contaminated with mycotoxins. As has been well established, the exposure of humans and animals to mycotoxin is both chronic (cancer induction, kidney toxicity, immune suppression) and acute (turkey X syndrome, human ergotism, etc).
The ingestion of mycotoxin through food and inhalation of mycotoxins and other contaminants in the air might result in lung damage, allergic reactions such as irritation in the respiratory tract, eyes, and skin, and sometimes headaches. Exposure to all these contaminants could have harmful effects on vital organs and consequently on the overall human health and productivity.
“It is instructive to note that, controlling mycotoxins which is largely preventive entails good agricultural practice and sufficient post-harvest drying of crops. Additionally, they are also controlled by diversion of mycotoxin-contaminated commodities from the food supply through effective screening in the market place. These, require concerted efforts of the Environment, Agriculture. and Health Sectors through effective collaboration, thereby fostering the objectives of one health,” he added.
Rapid testing technology
Specifically, the need to prioritize mycotoxin control through the use of the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) Concepts following an Integrated Management Approach for Pre-harvest, Harvesting, Post-harvest, Storage and Processing of Food and Cash crops.
The Ministry is strongly advocating for an effective Mycotoxin Testing Programme using rapid testing technology with potential for scaling up to laboratory-based methods.
Abubakar said it is imperative to note that; this workshop is organised to develop capacity of participants on the occurrence, prevalence and effects of mycotoxins in food, animal and environment.
“We intend to make the participants acquire the skills to monitor and detect safety risks associated with exposure to mycotoxin contamination in the environment and promptly taking appropriate corrective measures.”