Rising temperatures due to climate change increase the risk of human exposure to mycotoxins, according to the European Environment Agency (EEA).
A briefing published by the agency looked at health problems around mycotoxins and how they can tackle their spread and prevent contamination. Mycotoxins can pollute washed, food and food.
EEA said that mycotoxins are significant health risks. The toxins can disrupt hormones, weaken the immune system, damage the liver and kidneys, increase the risk of miscarriage, harm unborn children and act as carcinogenic substances.
Young children aged 1 to 3 years and babies younger than 12 months are particularly vulnerable because of their higher food intake compared to body weight, as well as pregnant women and employees in the agricultural, food and feeding sector.
According to a European human biomonitoring project aimed at chemicals, 14 percent of the adult population in six countries studied are exposed to deoxynivalenol (Don) at levels that are considered harmful to health. This type of mycotoxin is often found in wheat, corn and barley in moderate areas.
Climate impact
The briefing aimed at Don, but other mycotoxins are aflatoxin B1, Fumonisin B1, Zearalenon and Ochratoxin A. The EU regulation has limits for aflatoxin, ochratoxin A, Don, Zearalenon, Fumonisins (B1 and B2) and Patulin in some foods.
People are exposed by eating contaminated food, such as grains and grains, and products that they contain such as bread or pasta. Mycotoxins are absorbed by plants during growth or after harvest and can stay in food, even after washing, cooking or processing. This is because some are resistant to heat and typical methods for food preparation methods. Some of the fungi that produce mycotoxins are not visible or detected by odor or taste.
EEA said that climate change is changing fungal behavior and distribution, which may increase the risk of exposure to these toxins. A warmer and more humid climate in European regions promotes a higher prevalence of mycotoxins.
For maize, climate-induced aflatoxine infection has been linked to concern about food safety, which could also influence international trade. Control elements after harvest, such as cooling, cleaning, sorting and packaging steps are also important.
Potential changes
Extreme weather, such as heavy rainfall or prolonged droughts, increase the stress to which plants are exposed, making grains such as corn vulnerable to fungal infections and mycotoxin besal setting. Increased crop pollution can lead to lower yields, with associated economic losses.
The highest risk of mycotoxin contamination induced by climate change is expected in developed countries with moderate climates. Certain mycotoxins are expected to occur more often at higher temperatures and in humid conditions. It is expected that contamination of several mycotoxins will increase in crops, escalating human exposure to diet.
Producers can start renovating different crops that are better suited for changing environmental conditions. According to the briefing, this can have unexplored consequences for food safety.
The honor said that future actions to combat mycotoxin besaling can be the breeding of crops that are resistant to fungal infection; Good agricultural practices, such as adapting to environmental conditions, including crop rotation to regenerate soil fertility and minimize the transfer of fungus from one year to another; As well as the use of biological checks and predictive models.
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