Application of gamma irradiation in prevention of mycotoxin exposure

Plijesni su mikroskopske gljive široko raširene u prirodi te je kontaminacija plijesnima i njihovim sekundarnim metabolitima, mikotoksinima neizbježna. Neke plijesni proizvode mikotoksine koji predstavljaju veliki javnozdravstveni problem. Tako plijesni porodice Aspergillus proizvode aflatoksine, koji su jedni od najtoksičnijih mikotoksina i dokazani karcinogen za ljude, što je i potvrdila Međunarodna agencija za istraživanje raka (IARC) koja je aflatoksine svrstala u prvu grupu karcinogena. Također su fumonizini, sekundarni metaboliti plijesni roda Fusarium te okratoksin A, mikotoksin koji proizvode plijesni roda Aspergillus i Penicillium svrstani u skupinu 2B, mogućih karcinogena za ljude. Cilj ovoga rada bio je istražiti dostupnu literaturu koja bi argumentirala da li je γ zračenje, koje je već dugo vremena u praksi prihvaćena metoda sterilizacije medicinskog pribora i pasterizacije hrane, metoda koja može spriječiti kontaminaciju hrane mikotoksinima te također dekontaminirati već mikotoksinima kontaminiranu hranu. Dosadašnja istraživanja govore u prilog tome kako je prikladnim dozama γ zračenja koje ne utječu na kvalitetu hrane moguće uništiti plijesni, ali ne i adekvatno djelovati na same mikotoksine nakon njihove produkcije, što upućuje na važnost prevencije kontaminacije hrane plijesnima adekvatnim načinom proizvodnje i skladištenja hrane.Molds are microscopic fungi, ubiquitous in nature, thus making contamination by them and their secondary metabolites, mycotoxins, virtually inevitable. Mycotoxins present a serious public health issue. Mold genus Aspergillus produce aflatoxins, one of the most toxic mycotoxins, proven carcinogens for humans, which was confirmed by International Agency for Research on Cancer, whose experts grouped aflatoxins into Group 1 carcinogens. Furthermore, fumonisins, secondary metabolites of the genus Fusarium, and ochratoxin A, mycotoxin produced by the genera Aspergillus and Penicillium, have been grouped into Group 2B, which are potential carcinogens for humans. The main objective of this thesis was to research available literature which would argue whether γ radiation, which has been established as a common method of sterilization and pasteurization of medical equipment and food, could be applied as a method of both preventing contamination of food by molds, and method of decontamination of mycotoxin contaminated food. Overview of the current literature points to the conclusion that appropriate doses of γ radiation, which would not affect the quality of the food radiated, would destroy the molds, but unfortunately would not have an adequate effect on already produced mycotoxins. This signifies the importance of prevention of food mold contamination by adequate means of food production and storage