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Aflatoxin Exposure and Human Health with a Focus on Northern Latin America
by
Karen A. Corleto
Karen A. Corleto
Christian S. Alvarez
Christian S. Alvarez
Manuel Ramirez-Zea
Manuel Ramirez-Zea
John D. Groopman
John D. Groopman
Katherine A. McGlynn
Katherine A. McGlynn
1
Division of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
2
Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
3
Division of Intramural Research, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
4
Center for the Prevention of Chronic Diseases, Institute of Nutrition of Central America and Panama, Guatemala City 1188, Guatemala
5
Departments of Environmental Health and Engineering and Epidemiology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Toxins 2026, 18(1), 58; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins18010058 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 5 November 2025
/
Revised: 13 January 2026
/
Accepted: 15 January 2026
/
Published: 22 January 2026
Abstract
Aflatoxins, mycotoxins produced by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, were discovered sixty-five years ago and remain a significant public health threat, particularly amid increasing instances of extreme weather events. Of the four principal forms of aflatoxins found in foods (B1, B2, G1, and G2), aflatoxin B1 is the most potent carcinogen. Aflatoxins commonly contaminate a variety of foodstuffs, with maize being among the most susceptible. Chronic exposure to aflatoxins has been linked to liver cancer, childhood stunting, gallbladder cancer, and other adverse health effects. Due to public health concerns related to the consumption of aflatoxin-contaminated foods, most countries have established regulatory limits. Here, we present estimated aflatoxin exposure per day derived from human biomarker data across many studies around the world spanning more than forty years. We specifically focus on the impact of dietary aflatoxin in northern Latin America, where assessment of the total problem remains limited. These findings suggest a multipronged toolkit could mitigate aflatoxin exposure in the region, which would help to decrease the health burden.
Share and Cite
MDPI and ACS Style
Corleto, K.A.; Alvarez, C.S.; Ramirez-Zea, M.; Groopman, J.D.; McGlynn, K.A.
Aflatoxin Exposure and Human Health with a Focus on Northern Latin America. Toxins 2026, 18, 58.
https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins18010058
AMA Style
Corleto KA, Alvarez CS, Ramirez-Zea M, Groopman JD, McGlynn KA.
Aflatoxin Exposure and Human Health with a Focus on Northern Latin America. Toxins. 2026; 18(1):58.
https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins18010058
Chicago/Turabian Style
Corleto, Karen A., Christian S. Alvarez, Manuel Ramirez-Zea, John D. Groopman, and Katherine A. McGlynn.
2026. "Aflatoxin Exposure and Human Health with a Focus on Northern Latin America" Toxins 18, no. 1: 58.
https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins18010058
APA Style
Corleto, K. A., Alvarez, C. S., Ramirez-Zea, M., Groopman, J. D., & McGlynn, K. A.
(2026). Aflatoxin Exposure and Human Health with a Focus on Northern Latin America. Toxins, 18(1), 58.
https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins18010058
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