Mycotoxins and their effect on human health

Abstract

Health risks associated with the consumption of products contaminated with mycotoxins are worldwide recognized and depend on the extent to which they are consumed in diversified diet. To some extent, the presence of small amount of mycotoxins in cereals and related food products is unavoidable; this requires risk assessments which are to be carried out by regulatory bodies in several countries to help establish regulatory guidelines for the protection of public health. By assessing the levels at which these substances in food may pose a potential risk to human health, it is possible to devise appropriate risk management strategies. However, several important factors have to be taken into account in making a rational risk management decision, such as adequate toxicological data and information concerning the extent of exposure, availability of technically sound analytical procedures (including sampling), socioeconomic factors, food intake patterns and levels of mycotoxins in food commodities which may vary considerably between countries.

Zdravstveni rizici povezani sa konzumacijom proizvoda kontaminiranih mikotoksinima su prepoznati u celom svetu. U izvesnoj meri prisustvo malih količina mikotoksina u žitaricama i drugim proizvodima je očekivano i neminovno. To iziskuje procenu rizika od strane regulatornih tela koja moraju imati ulogu u uspostavljanju regulatornih smernica za zaštitu javnog zdravlja. Nakon procene nivoa mikotoksina u hrani potrebno je osmisliti odgovarajuće strategije za upravljanje rizikom. Nekoliko važnih faktora treba uzeti u obzir pri donošenju odluka o racionalnom upravljanju rizikom, uključujući toksikološke podatke, nivoe izloženosti, dostupnost analitičkih procedura, socioekonomske faktore i nacionalnu legislativu.