Abstract

Mekuria Wolde

This review was conducted to investigate the effect of aflatoxin contamination in Ethiopia. Risk of aflatoxin contamination of commodities in Africa, especially in Ethiopia is increasing. Aflatoxin can occur in a wide range of important commodities, including cereals, nuts, spices, figs and dried fruit. AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, AFG1, AFM1 and AFM2 are the most common type of aflatoxin. Aflatoxin contamination of agricultural commodities poses considerable risk to human and livestock health and economic losses. Exposure to aflatoxin leads to several health-related conditions in human including acute and chronic aflatoxicosis, immune suppression, liver cancer, liver cirrhosis, stunted growth in children and many others. In Ethiopia aflatoxins are detected from several crops especially from maize and groundnut. Several researches show that AFB1 is the most common aflatoxin in Ethiopia from most commodities at a very much higher level. AFM1 was also detected greater than the standard from milk and milk products in Ethiopia. This indicates that a lot of Ethiopian people are at danger of aflatoxin contamination. Lack of awareness on aflatoxin contamination increases the risk of damage to human and animals. High economic losses due to aflatoxin occur in the country crops and animals.