Open Access<p>Human Health Risk Associated with the Consumption of Aflatoxins in Popcorn</p>
Author(s) -
Tomás Morales-Moo,
Estela Hernández-Camarillo,
Magda Carvajal-Moreno,
Manuel Vargas-Ortíz,
V.J. Robles-Olvera,
M.A. Salgado-Cervantes
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
risk management and healthcare policy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.828
H-Index - 22
ISSN - 1179-1594
DOI - 10.2147/rmhp.s274767
Subject(s) - aflatoxin , aspergillus flavus , medicine , toxicology , body weight , aspergillus parasiticus , incidence (geometry) , food contaminant , zoology , food science , biology , mathematics , geometry , pathology
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.