Mycotoxins in Bangladesh from a public health perspective

Abstract

Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites from various species of filamentous fungi. They thrive in conditions of high temperature and humidity akin to places like Bangladesh. Due to the damp and humid conditions of the long summers acclimatized by bouts of rain in Bangladesh, mycotoxins tend to contaminate a wide variety of crops and cereals, which include maize, wheat, rice, spices, and even animal feed. The contamination of these food and feed sources can then cause serious health effects ranging from maladies to long term health effects like cancer. Global mycotoxin exposure has been recorded to reach a staggering 4.5 billion people annually according to a study conducted in 2004 and it is subject to an increase in recent times and the near future. Some studies show that certain mycotoxins are produced indoors due to poor air ventilation and sanitation. This is particularly concerning in the times of COVID-19 as the majority of the population is advised to stay indoors to avoid the spreading of the virus. Exposure to mycotoxins is of great concern since it is directly linked to cancer, mainly due to its hepatocarcinogenic effects. It has also been associated with reproductive issues, malformations, immunosuppressive effects, neurotoxicity, and nephrotoxicity. Awareness of mycotoxins is often very minimal in lower-income countries like Bangladesh which puts these countries at a higher prevalence to these mycotoxins and their related health effects. While writing this review, we have noticed that only a limited number of researches on mycotoxin and its effect on health in Bangladesh have been done so far. As several Bangladeshi food items contain a high amount of mycotoxins and only a few research works have been done in this area, it should be a public health concern in Bangladesh, and further research is required for this topic