Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites of moulds that exert toxic effects on animals and humans. The toxic effect of mycotoxins on animal and human health is referred to as mycotoxicosis, the severity of which depends on the
toxicity of the mycotoxin, the extent of exposure, age and nutritional status of the individual and possible synergistic effects of other chemicals to which the individual is exposed. The chemical structures of mycotoxins vary considerably, but they are all relatively low molecular mass organic compounds
Growth of commonly occurring moulds on foods and building materials may result in production of toxic complex secondary metabolic by-products referred to as mycotoxins. Moulds that produce mycotoxins are said to be toxigenic (or incorrectly toxic moulds). According to experts, five kinds of mycotoxins are important in human and animal health: aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, fumonisins, certain trichothecenes and zearalenone. It is believed the effect of mycotoxins as a cause of human mortality is underestimated. Mycotoxins can elicit a wide range of toxic responses including acute and chronic systemic effects in humans and animals that cannot be attributed to mould growth within the host or allergic reactions to foreign proteins.
Moulds
Exposure to mycotoxins can occur through ingestion, contact or inhalation of airborne particulates containing the toxins, including dust and mould components such as spores and mycelial fragments. In agricultural settings, mycotoxicoses (mycotoxin poisoning) in both farm animals and humans can result from oral, dermal, or exposure through inhalation of mycotoxin-contaminated grain or dust. The most widely known mycotoxins are the aflatoxins whose toxic effects were first realized in England in the 1960s when an outbreak of the so called turkey X disease killed over 100,000 fowls following consumption of contaminated peanuts. Aflatoxins are still a problem particularly in developing countries. In mid 2004 more than 100 people died in an East African country after consuming grains contaminated with aflatoxins. Aflatoxins are mainly produced by two species of Aspergillus, Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus, in several agricultural commodities, including corn and nuts. Two structural types of aflatoxins are known (B and G types), of which aflatoxin B1 is a class 1 carcinogen and is considered the most toxic. In experimental animals, exposure through breathing has been shown in some cases being several orders of magnitude more toxic than dermal or even systemic administration. Levels of airborne mycotoxin in indoor environment have not well been established and neither the contribution of airborne mycotoxins to sick-building syndrome.
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