Rising temperatures due to climate change are increasing the risk of human exposure to so-called mycotoxins , natural toxins produced by fungi found in some foods, feed and crops, according to a newly published European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing.These toxins can harm health and preventing the increase in contamination requires joint action at European and national level , on research, policies and practices to effectively reduce the risks.
Warmer and wetter climates across Europe are promoting a higher prevalence of mycotoxins from fungi, according to the EEA briefing “Mycotoxin exposure in a changing European climate” .
It examines the health concerns associated with mycotoxins , particularly in relation to their impact on food crops, and how a more coordinated European approach can help address the spread and prevent contamination.
Health risks
Mycotoxins, naturally occurring harmful compounds produced by mushrooms, pose significant health risks. Mushroom toxins can disrupt hormones, weaken the immune system, damage the liver and kidneys, increase the risk of miscarriage, harm unborn babies, and act as carcinogens.Evidence suggests that certain groups may be at higher risk of exposure to mycotoxins.
Young children (1-3 years) and infants (under 12 months) are particularly vulnerable due to their higher food intake relative to body weight, as are pregnant women and workers in the agricultural, food and feed sectors.
According to HBM4EU , a European project on human chemical biomonitoring, 14% of the adult population in Europe is exposed to the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) at levels considered harmful to human health. This particular mycotoxin, DON, is often found naturally in wheat, maize and barley in temperate regions.
People are exposed to these toxins by eating contaminated food (especially grains and products containing them such as bread or pasta).
Washing and cooking these foods does not necessarily remove mycotoxins.
This is especially a problem since some of the fungi that produce mycotoxins are not visible or detectable by smell or taste.
Another route of exposure is through drinking water contaminated by agricultural runoff .
Inhalation and absorption through the skin are other potential routes of exposure for people working with affected crops or food.
Climate impacts
Climate change is altering the behavior and distribution of fungi, potentially increasing the risk of exposure to these toxins.Increased precipitation, flooding, and soil erosion can also transfer these toxins from the soil into rivers and groundwater.
Extreme weather events, such as heavy rains or prolonged droughts, increase the stress to which plants are exposed, making cereals, especially corn, more vulnerable to fungal infections and mycotoxin contamination.
Concerns do not stop at the level of human health. Increased contamination of crops can lead to lower yields, resulting in economic losses.
Finally, an increasing risk of fungal infections may trigger an increase in the use of fungicides by farmers. This may, in the long term, lead to increased risks of developing antifungal resistance, increasing the risk of difficult-to-treat fungal infections in humans.
A "One Health" approach
The case of mycotoxins is a clear example of a problem that has potentially far-reaching consequences for animal, human and ecosystem health, with the environment also playing a key role as a pathway for the spread of contamination.The European Union is already working across a range of policy and work areas to understand and develop solutions and mitigation strategies to address the risks posed by mycotoxins.
For example, surveillance already undertaken in the environment (such as rainfall, hours of sunlight, temperature recordings) should also be carried out to monitor food, feed, animals and humans .
Other possible future actions to counteract mycotoxin contamination could include breeding crops resistant to fungal infections, adopting good agricultural practices (such as adapting to environmental conditions, including crop rotation to regenerate soil fertility and minimize carryover of molds from one year to the next), as well as the use of biological controls and predictive models.
The European Union's so-called "One Health" approach can help coordinate action and research that recognizes the complex interconnection of human, animal and environmental health, applying solutions that take these different elements into account. (Source: https://www.eea.europa.eu/ )