Last data update: May 28, 2024. (Total: 46864 publications since 2009)
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Query Trace: Lewis LW[original query] |
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Comprehensive assessment of maize aflatoxin levels in Eastern Kenya, 2005 - 2007
Daniel JH , Lewis LW , Redwood YA , Kieszak S , Breiman RF , Flanders WD , Bell C , Mwihia J , Ogana G , Likimani S , Straetemans M , McGeehin MA . Environ Health Perspect 2011 119 (12) 1794-9 BACKGROUND: Aflatoxin, a potent fungal toxin, contaminates 25% of crops worldwide. Since 2004, 477 aflatoxin poisonings associated with eating contaminated maize have been documented in Eastern Kenya, with a case-fatality rate of 40%. OBJECTIVE: To characterize maize aflatoxin contamination during the high risk season (April-June) following the major harvests in 2005, 2006 (aflatoxicosis outbreak years), and 2007 (a non-outbreak year). METHODS: Households were randomly selected each year from the region in Kenya where outbreaks have consistently occurred. At each household, we obtained at least one maize sample (n = 716) for aflatoxin analysis using immunoaffinity methods and administered a questionnaire to determine the source (i.e. homegrown, purchased or relief) and amount of maize in the household. RESULTS: During outbreak years-2005 and 2006, 41% and 51% of maize samples respectively, had aflatoxin levels above the 20 ppb Kenyan regulatory limit for aflatoxin in grains for human consumption. In 2007 (non-outbreak year), 16% of samples were above the 20 ppb limit. In addition, geometric mean (GM) aflatoxin levels were significantly higher in 2005 (GM=12.92, max=48,000 ppb) and 2006 (GM=26.03, max=24,400 ppb) compared to 2007 (GM=1.95, max=2,500 ppb) (p value<.001). In all three years combined, maize aflatoxin levels were significantly higher in homegrown maize (GM=17.96) when compared to purchased maize (GM=3.64) or relief maize (GM=0.73) (p value<.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Aflatoxin contamination is extreme within this region and homegrown maize is the primary source of contamination. Prevention measures should focus on reducing homegrown maize contamination at the household level to avert future outbreaks. |
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