What is aflatoxin B1 B2 G1 G2?

Aflatoxins belong to a group of naturally occurring toxins which contaminate foodstuffs under favourable conditions. Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus produce aflatoxins; the four major aflatoxins which contaminate foodstuffs are B1, B2, G1 and G2.

How can I test for aflatoxin at home?

AflaCheck is a qualitative one-step test kit for the detection of aflatoxin. AflaCheck uses highly specific reactions between antibodies and aflatoxin to detect aflatoxin in a variety of samples.

How do you test for aflatoxins?

Several methods including thin-layer chromatography (TLC), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), mass spectroscopy, enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay (ELISA), and electrochemical immunosensor, among others, have been described for detecting and quantifying aflatoxins in foods.

Is there a blood test for aflatoxin?

As measuring aflatoxin-albumin levels from blood samples is an appropriate method to measure exposure to aflatoxins over the past weeks/months, aflatoxin exposure was assessed through analysis of blood samples from children and their mothers22.

How do you remove aflatoxin from your body?

The most common way to remove AFB1 using physical methods is to heat and use gamma rays. Aflatoxins are highly thermostable. Studies have shown that AFB1 levels are significantly reduced by heating at 100 and 150°C for 90 minutes, respectively, at 41.9 and 81.2%.

What is G1 aflatoxin?

Aflatoxin G1 is one type of aflatoxins occuring in nature. It is produced by molds, such as Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. Aflatoxins are hepatogenic, teratogenic, imunosuppressive, and carcinogenic fungal metabolites found in feeds, nuts, wine-grapes, spices, and other grain crops.

How long does it take to test for aflatoxin?

These allow a rapid analysis of a wide range of food and feed samples with an assay time as low as 3 minutes. The test kits are available in a qualitative or quantitative format.

What happens if you eat aflatoxins?

Ingesting small quantities of the toxins over the long term can cause liver cancer, and in some cases, it can cause lung cancer. This is because aflatoxins are potent carcinogens, which are cancer-causing agents. Treatment of aflatoxin poisoning all depends on what is happening to the person.

What is a safe levels of aflatoxin?

Corn containing less than 20 parts per billion aflatoxin is considered safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in all animal feed. Corn exceeding 20 ppb can be fed only for specific age, weight, and production stage.

What are the symptoms of aflatoxin?

Pets experiencing aflatoxin poisoning may have symptoms such as sluggishness, loss of appetite, vomiting, jaundice (yellowish tint to the eyes or gums due to liver damage), and/or diarrhea. In severe cases, this toxicity can be fatal. In some cases, pets may suffer liver damage but not show symptoms.

What foods are high in aflatoxin?

The staple commodities regularly contaminated with aflatoxins include cassava, chilies, corn, cotton seed, millet, peanuts, rice, sorghum, sunflower seeds, tree nuts, wheat, and a variety of spices intended for human or animal consumption.

What causes ochratoxin A?

Ochratoxin A is produced by several species of Aspergillus and Penicillium and is a common food-contaminating mycotoxin. Contamination of food commodities, such as cereals and cereal products, coffee beans, dry vine fruits, wine and grape juice, spices and liquorice, occurs worldwide.