presence of aflatoxins in smoked-dried fish sold in abeokuta, ogun ...

Increased liver cancer incidence associated with aflatoxin exposure occurs in areas where
there is intake of high levels of aflatoxins (often higher than the regulatory limits).
5.3 RECOMMENDATIONS
There is a need for further study of interaction between aflatoxins and hepatitis virus and
joint effects of aflatoxins and hepatitis virus on liver cancer.
Pharmacokinetic studies of ingested aflatoxins in humans (with and without liver
disease).
Populations with a low mean aflatoxin intake are likely to achieve a decrease in liver
cancer cases by introducing lower aflatoxin limits.
Surveillance should be targeted to staple foods.
HACCP (Hazard analysis and critical control point) principles can be used to highlight
the roles that fungal ecology play in aflatoxin contamination, prevention and control.
The stakeholders in the production chain, particularly farmers, fish processors should be
made aware of the importance of measures to reduce aflatoxin contamination.
Training programmes for the development of practical control and management strategies
should be developed and conducted in order to set up strong aflatoxin management
programmes.
Complicated aflatoxin analysis procedure should be replaced with commercial kits such
as Veratox Quantitative Aflatoxin Test used for this particular work, which is easy to run.
Health regulatory bodies such as NAFDAC should carry this out so that aflatoxin can be
easily detected and samples containing them in very high concentrations should be
discarded.
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