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Article: Exposure of Rural and Urban Populations in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, to Fumonisin [B.sub.1] in Maize.
- Article from:
- Environmental Health Perspectives
- Article date:
- March 1, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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We surveyed households in rural and urban areas of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, to assess the exposure of the inhabitants to fumonisin [B.sub.1] ([FB.sub.1]), a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium verticillioides. In southern African regions maize, used as a staple food by the population, is prone to F. verticillioides infection. Furthermore, high levels of [FB.sub.1] in maize have been associated with esophageal cancer in South Africa. We assessed exposure of the population to [FB.sub.1] at three levels, namely, by analyzing stored maize, plate-ready food, and feces. The positions of participating households in the rural area were recorded using geographic information systems ...