Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Types of Toxins01:36

Types of Toxins

Humans continually engage with an environment rich in potentially harmful chemicals. These are introduced to our bodies through inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact. These chemicals exist in various forms, such as air and environmental pollutants, agricultural chemicals, organic solvents, and heavy metals.
Air pollutants, primarily gases, pose significant threats to respiratory health, leading to conditions like hypoxia, lung cancer, and in extreme cases, death.
Environmental pollutants like...
Toxic Reactions: Overview01:26

Toxic Reactions: Overview

When toxic substances penetrate the human body, they disseminate to various tissues, undergoing metabolic changes. This process yields reactive metabolites that may covalently bind with specific target molecules, resulting in toxicity.
Toxicity falls into two primary categories: local and systemic.
Local toxicity appears at the exposure site, such as protein denaturation caused by caustic substances.
In contrast, systemic toxicity requires the toxic agent's absorption and distribution,...
Fungal Phylum Basidiomycota01:26

Fungal Phylum Basidiomycota

Basidiomycota is a diverse phylum of fungi that includes ecologically significant decomposers such as white rot fungi, symbionts like mycorrhizal fungi, plant pathogens such as rusts and smuts, and edible species like Agaricus bisporus (the common button mushroom). These fungi play crucial roles in nutrient cycling, symbiotic relationships, and even human health. Their defining feature is the basidium, a microscopic club-shaped structure responsible for producing basidiospores.Fruiting Bodies...
Toxicity Testing in Animals01:23

Toxicity Testing in Animals

Toxicity tests in animals are grounded on two main assumptions: first, the effects observed in laboratory animals can be extrapolated to humans, especially when adjusted for body surface area; second, high-dose exposure in animals is essential to identify potential human hazards from lower doses. This is based on the quantal dose-response concept, which faces the challenge of extrapolating results from relatively few test animals to much larger human populations. For example, a 0.01% incidence...
Fungal Phylum Ascomycota01:28

Fungal Phylum Ascomycota

Phylum Ascomycota, a major division within the subkingdom Dikarya, comprises a diverse range of fungal species, including both unicellular yeasts and filamentous molds such as Aspergillus and Penicillium. These fungi thrive in a variety of habitats, from aquatic ecosystems to terrestrial environments, playing crucial ecological and economic roles.Morphology and ReproductionThe defining characteristic of Ascomycetes, commonly referred to as sac fungi, is the ascus—a sac-like structure that...
Drug Toxicity: Overview01:00

Drug Toxicity: Overview

Drug toxicity quantifies the harm a compound causes to an organism, varying by dose and potentially impacting whole systems or specific organs like the liver. Toxic reactions may arise from venomous insect or spider bites, with effects ranging from mild symptoms to severe outcomes such as brain damage or death. Common forms of acute poisoning include ethanol intoxication and overdose of pain or fever medications, with substances like GHB and heroin being particularly lethal at doses close to...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same journal

North America.

IARC scientific publications·2016
Same journal

Central and South America.

IARC scientific publications·2016
Same journal

Africa.

IARC scientific publications·2016
Same journal

Data availability and presentation.

IARC scientific publications·2016
Same journal

Age standardization.

IARC scientific publications·2016
Same journal

Data processing.

IARC scientific publications·2016

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 13, 2026

RNAi-mediated Control of Aflatoxins in Peanut: Method to Analyze Mycotoxin Production and Transgene Expression in the Peanut/Aspergillus Pathosystem
09:44

RNAi-mediated Control of Aflatoxins in Peanut: Method to Analyze Mycotoxin Production and Transgene Expression in the Peanut/Aspergillus Pathosystem

Published on: December 21, 2015

Mycotoxins and human health

    IARC Scientific Publications
    |March 13, 2013
    PubMed
    Summary

    Mycotoxins, common dietary contaminants, pose health risks, with aflatoxins linked to liver cancer. More research and better exposure assessment tools are needed to understand their full impact.

    Area of Science:

    • Food safety and toxicology
    • Public health and epidemiology
    • Environmental health

    Background:

    • Mycotoxins are widespread contaminants in food with potential adverse human health effects.
    • Evidence linking most mycotoxins to specific health issues is limited, necessitating further investigation.
    • Aflatoxins are a notable exception, established as a cause of human liver cancer, especially in individuals with chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To review the current understanding of mycotoxin-associated human health effects.
    • To highlight the limitations in current knowledge and research methodologies.
    • To emphasize the need for improved exposure assessment tools and further epidemiological studies.

    Main Methods:

    • Review of epidemiological, experimental, and mechanistic studies on mycotoxin health effects.

    More Related Videos

    Quantification of Fungal Colonization, Sporogenesis, and Production of Mycotoxins Using Kernel Bioassays
    10:01

    Quantification of Fungal Colonization, Sporogenesis, and Production of Mycotoxins Using Kernel Bioassays

    Published on: April 23, 2012

    Inhibition of Aspergillus flavus Growth and Aflatoxin Production in Transgenic Maize Expressing the α-amylase Inhibitor from Lablab purpureus L.
    09:21

    Inhibition of Aspergillus flavus Growth and Aflatoxin Production in Transgenic Maize Expressing the α-amylase Inhibitor from Lablab purpureus L.

    Published on: February 15, 2019

    Related Experiment Videos

    Last Updated: May 13, 2026

    RNAi-mediated Control of Aflatoxins in Peanut: Method to Analyze Mycotoxin Production and Transgene Expression in the Peanut/Aspergillus Pathosystem
    09:44

    RNAi-mediated Control of Aflatoxins in Peanut: Method to Analyze Mycotoxin Production and Transgene Expression in the Peanut/Aspergillus Pathosystem

    Published on: December 21, 2015

    Quantification of Fungal Colonization, Sporogenesis, and Production of Mycotoxins Using Kernel Bioassays
    10:01

    Quantification of Fungal Colonization, Sporogenesis, and Production of Mycotoxins Using Kernel Bioassays

    Published on: April 23, 2012

    Inhibition of Aspergillus flavus Growth and Aflatoxin Production in Transgenic Maize Expressing the α-amylase Inhibitor from Lablab purpureus L.
    09:21

    Inhibition of Aspergillus flavus Growth and Aflatoxin Production in Transgenic Maize Expressing the α-amylase Inhibitor from Lablab purpureus L.

    Published on: February 15, 2019

  • Discussion of established and potential associations between specific mycotoxins (aflatoxins, fumonisins, deoxynivalenol, ochratoxin A, zearalenone) and human diseases.
  • Consideration of challenges in human exposure assessment and the role of biomarkers.

    • Main Results:

    • Aflatoxins are definitively linked to liver cancer and acute aflatoxicosis, with ongoing research into child growth impairment and immune effects.
    • Fumonisins show potential links to esophageal cancer and neural tube defects, but conclusions are not yet definitive.
    • Deoxynivalenol and trichothecenes are associated with acute poisoning outbreaks; ochratoxin A and zearalenone effects remain largely undefined.

    Conclusions:

    • The full impact of widespread mycotoxin exposure on human health is not yet defined.
    • Improved methods for assessing human exposure, such as novel biomarkers, are crucial for advancing research and public health measures.
    • Further epidemiological studies are essential to elucidate the adverse effects of these common dietary contaminants.