Aflatoxin exposure and health impacts: global burden and advances in detection technologies

Prevalence and concentration of aflatoxins in sesame seeds: global systematic review and meta-analysis and human risk assessment

PFAS: challenges and scientific perspectives in human health risk assessment.

Five key recommendations for future health risk assessments are concluded, prioritizing PFAS; improving analytical methods; promoting generation of robust data and data gap filling; promoting open science, including the development of shared data infrastructure and cross-institutional knowledge exchange; and strengthening risk communication.

Occurrence and Health Risk Assessment of Aflatoxin B1 and Total Aflatoxins in Maize Flour From Jiroft City, Iran

ABSTRACT Aflatoxins are highly toxic secondary metabolites produced by certain species of Aspergillus that can contaminate food products and pose significant health risks to humans and animals. This study aimed to determine the occurrence and contamination levels of total aflatoxins (total AF) and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in maize flour marketed in Jiroft City, Kerman Province, Iran, and to assess the associated dietary exposure and health risk. Forty commercially packaged maize flour samples were collected from various local markets and supermarkets during June and July 2023. The concentrations of total AF and AFB1 were quantified using competitive enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). All analyses were performed in duplicate to ensure reproducibility and accuracy. Detectable concentrations above the assay limit of detection (LOD) were found in 27 (67.5%) samples for AFB1 and 28 (70%) samples for total AF. Notably, AFB1 levels exceeded the European Commission (EC) permissible limit of 2 μg/kg in 14 samples (35%), while total AF levels were above the EC limit of 4 μg/kg in 8 samples (20%). Furthermore, 4 samples (10%) surpassed the regulatory threshold of 5 μg/kg for AFB1, while none exceeded the allowable limit of 30 μg/kg for total AF, as established by the Iran National Standards Organization (INSO). The estimated daily intake (EDI) of AFB1, calculated based on maize flour consumption and average body‐weight data for the adult population, was 2.29 × 10−4 μg/kg body weight/day. The calculated margin of exposure (MOE) was 1748.25, which is below the reference value of 10,000, indicating a potential health concern for consumers. Overall, the findings indicate that aflatoxin contamination in maize flour marketed in Jiroft remains a food safety concern and highlight the need for routine monitoring and strengthened quality control measures to minimize consumer exposure.

Human and environmental health risks of drugs in the environment

It is confirmed that pharmaceutical pollutants represent a multidimensional One Health challenge and primary recommendations include strengthening pharmaceutical waste management systems and medication take-back programs and implementing advanced wastewater treatment technologies.

Aflatoxins and co-occurring mycotoxins in poultry feed chains (2020–25): A systematic review of occurrence, toxicity, monitoring and mitigation

Aflatoxins, particularly aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) produced by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, remain persistent contaminants of maize- and groundnut-derived ingredients used in poultry feed, reducing bird productivity and creating consumer exposure through residues in eggs and edible tissues. We systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar for peer-reviewed primary studies published from January 2020 to December 2025. About 78 studies met the eligibility criteria; secondary sources were used only for contextual interpretation and were excluded from the PRISMA evidence count. Because the study designs, exposure matrices, analytical methods and outcome measures were highly heterogeneous, the evidence was synthesised using structured quantitative summaries and narrative comparison rather than statistical pooling. Across regions, AFB1 was the predominant aflatoxin and frequently co-occurred with deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, ochratoxin A and fumonisins. Mechanistic evidence linked aflatoxicosis to cytochrome P450-mediated bioactivation, oxidative and mitochondrial injury, immune dysregulation and intestinal-barrier disruption with mixture studies indicating additive or synergistic toxicity under some exposure conditions. Aluminosilicate clays and yeast-derived products showed the most consistent evidence of mitigation, although nutrient interactions, product variability, long-term safety and cost require consideration. Probiotics, synbiotics, enzymes and phytochemicals provided complementary protection, whereas nanomaterials, plasma-activated water and postbiotics require further safety, scale-up and regulatory evaluation. Rapid immunoassays are suitable for routine screening, while liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) remains essential for confirmatory multi-mycotoxin analysis. Integrated prevention, risk-based surveillance and context-specific multimodal mitigation are therefore required across poultry-feed chains.

Carryover of Aflatoxin From Dairy Feed to Milk: A Systematic Review (1 January 2004-31 December 2024).

Aflatoxins, toxic metabolites produced by Aspergillus species, are frequently reported contaminants of dairy cattle feed worldwide, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions where climatic conditions favor fungal growth, and they can be transferred into milk and dairy products. Their presence poses major public health risks, including liver cancer and growth impairment, among others. Understanding the extent of carryover from feed to milk is critical for food safety and regulatory control. A systematic review was conducted to synthesize evidence on aflatoxin carryover in dairy systems over the past two decades. Literature searches were performed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase. Studies investigating aflatoxin levels in dairy feed and milk, as well as carryover rates, were included. Data extraction focused on contamination levels, feed treatment efficiency and carryover rates of aflatoxins as well as mitigation measures. Twenty-seven eligible studies were identified. Aflatoxin B1 concentrations in dairy feed ranged from undetectable to 598 µg/kg. In milk, AFM1 levels reached up to 22.2 µg/kg, with reported carryover rates as high as 15%. The findings highlight variability in contamination across regions and production systems. This review underscores the continuing risk of aflatoxin in dairy products, identifies knowledge gaps and emerging threats, and emphasizes the need for improved interventions to safeguard food safety and public health.