Limiting the occupational exposure to aflatoxin in Thailand

Aflatoxin contamination is a public health concern for both producers and consumers since it is contaminated in tree nuts, peanuts, and other oilseeds, including corn and cottonseed. Aflatoxin B1 is usually predominant and is the most toxic, can produce acute necrosis, cirrhosis, and carcinoma of the liver in human and many animal species. The toxicity can be influenced by environmental factors, exposure level, and duration of exposure, age, health, and nutritional status of diet. Aflatoxin B1 is a very potent carcinogen, liver is the primary target organ of acute injury. Exposure to aflatoxin is known to cause both chronic and acute hepatocellular injury. Aflatoxin B1 is considered the most toxic aflatoxin and it is highly implicated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in humans. In developing nations, such as Thailand, many people are exposed to aflatoxin through food grown at home. Inadequate harvesting and storage techniques allow for the growth of aflatoxin-producing fungus and homegrown crops are not routinely tested for the presence of aflatoxin. An estimated 4.5 billion people living in developing countries may be chronically exposed to aflatoxin through their diet. Occupational exposure to aflatoxin B1 has also been reported in swine and poultry production. Promoting and enforcing the standard and regulations with entire procedures is required in all workplaces and workers who are exposed to aflatoxin need to make sure that workers and consumers are safe