aflatoxin
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A highly toxic and carcinogenic chemical compound produced by certain molds of the Aspergillus species, particularly Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. It is a significant food safety concern, commonly contaminating crops like peanuts, tree nuts, corn, and cottonseed.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The peanut batch was recalled due to high levels of aflatoxin.
- Chronic exposure to aflatoxin is a major risk factor for liver cancer.
- Strict regulations limit the permissible amount of aflatoxin in food products.
Advanced Usage
- "Aflatoxin contamination": Refers to the presence of aflatoxin in a substance, especially foodstuffs.
- Aflatoxin contamination in maize is a persistent problem in some tropical regions.
- "Aflatoxin poisoning" (or aflatoxicosis): Refers to the illness resulting from ingesting high levels of aflatoxins.
- The outbreak of aflatoxin poisoning was traced back to moldy grain.
Variants and Related Words
- Aflatoxigenic (adj): Describing molds capable of producing aflatoxin.
- Aflatoxigenic strains of Aspergillus were identified in the soil.
- Aflatoxicosis (n): The medical condition of poisoning by aflatoxins.
Synonyms
- Mycotoxin: This is a broader category; aflatoxin is a specific, potent type of mycotoxin.
- Carcinogen: A substance capable of causing cancer; aflatoxin is a specific, naturally occurring carcinogen.
Related Phrases
- "Produced by Aspergillus": A key descriptive phrase identifying the source of aflatoxin.
- The aflatoxin produced by Aspergillus can survive many food processing methods.
Related Concepts
- Biological weapon (bioweapon): As referenced, aflatoxin has been researched for potential use as a toxin in biological warfare due to its stability and potency.
- Food safety hazard: Aflatoxin is a classic example of a naturally occurring chemical hazard in the food supply chain.
Noun
- a potent carcinogen from the fungus Aspergillus; can be produced and stored for use as a bioweapon