Aflatoxins and farmers.

[Guest guest]

Investigating the presence, levels, and fate of aflatoxin B1 in soil and

aerosolized soil dust

Investigators: MI Selim, JM Starr, Department of Preventive Medicine and

Environmental Health, The University of Iowa

The presence of aflatoxin B1 in agricultural soil poses a potential health

risk to farmers from exposure to aerosolized soil dust during plowing and

cultivation activities. In addition, aflatoxin B1 may constitute a health risk

through contamination of surface water or groundwater. The primary purpose of

this project is to investigate the presence and concentrations of aflatoxin B1

in Iowa. Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), flow injection renewable

surface immunoassay (FIRSI) with fluorescence detection, and HPLC/ES/MS methods

will be developed and used for the determination of aflatoxin B1 and its

transformation products in soil. This study will provide needed data to support

external funding of a more detailed regional investigation of the fate and

potential health risk of aflatoxin B1, as well as potential control and

detoxification mechanisms.

[Guest guest]

I have suspected that the region where I was overexposed has an

overall high level of fungal activity in the soils there, owing to it

being historical marshland that was reclaimed for agricultural use.

has forwarded theories that there are 'Feel-Good places " that

could be associated with low ambient fungal concentrations. As long

as it doesn't rain, the desert generally works fo me.

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> Investigating the presence, levels, and fate of aflatoxin B1 in soil

and

> aerosolized soil dust

> Investigators: MI Selim, JM Starr, Department of Preventive Medicine

and

> Environmental Health, The University of Iowa

>

> The presence of aflatoxin B1 in agricultural soil poses a potential

health

> risk to farmers from exposure to aerosolized soil dust during

plowing and

> cultivation activities. In addition, aflatoxin B1 may constitute a

health risk

> through contamination of surface water or groundwater. The primary

purpose of

> this project is to investigate the presence and concentrations of

aflatoxin B1

> in Iowa. Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), flow injection renewable

> surface immunoassay (FIRSI) with fluorescence detection, and

HPLC/ES/MS methods

> will be developed and used for the determination of aflatoxin B1

and its

> transformation products in soil. This study will provide needed

data to support

> external funding of a more detailed regional investigation of the

fate and

> potential health risk of aflatoxin B1, as well as potential control

and

> detoxification mechanisms.

>

>

>

>