Ecosystems and Human Health, 3rd Edition

Chapter 10

Mycotoxins and Other Toxins from Unicellular Organisms

Anything green, that grew out of the mould,

Was a wonderful drug to our fathers of old.

Anon

Introduction

Fungi have been a great boon to humankind, making possible the production of cheeses and alcoholic beverages, and for driving the fermentation process involved in many manufacturing processes, providing a source of food in the form of edible mushrooms, puffballs, and the much sought after truffles, making antibiotics such as the penicillins and others, and being involved in the production of citric acid, an important food preservative. Many species, however, produce mycotoxins that constitute a threat to human health and agriculture by contaminating grain crops and because ...