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Journals / Erciyes Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü Fen Bilimleri Dergisi / 2025 / Cilt: 41 Sayı: 3

Assessment of the Presence of Aflatoxins and Pesticides in Food and Their Public Health Risks

Aflatoksin ve Pestisitlerin Gıdalardaki Varlığı ve Halk Sağlığı Açısından Risk Değerlendirmesi

Uğurcan Başhan(DICLE UNIVERSITY)0000-0002-2338-2641
Semra Kaçar(Mardin Artuklu University)0000-0002-9869-9045
Pages
770–782
Publication Date
2025-12-31
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

The study aims to support the development of effective public health policies and to promote greater consumer awareness regarding these food safety hazards.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Aflatoxins and pesticide residues are among the most critical chemical contaminants posing a threat to food safety worldwide.
📊
Key Findings & Data:Pesticides, extensively applied in agricultural production to enhance yield and prevent crop losses, may cause serious adverse effects on human health when used improperly or without regulation.
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Conclusion & Impact:The study aims to support the development of effective public health policies and to promote greater consumer awareness regarding these food safety hazards.
🔬Design:Review & Systematic Survey
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Aflatoksin · Pestisit · Gıda Güvenliği

Abstract

Aflatoxins and pesticide residues are among the most critical chemical contaminants posing a threat to food safety worldwide. Pesticides, extensively applied in agricultural production to enhance yield and prevent crop losses, may cause serious adverse effects on human health when used improperly or without regulation. Likewise, aflatoxins—secondary metabolites produced by Aspergillus species under warm and humid conditions—can contaminate food products and exert toxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic effects, particularly targeting the liver. This review examines the occurrence of aflatoxins and pesticide residues in foods, their detection methods, regulatory standards, and associated public health risks in light of recent scientific evidence. In addition, challenges related to monitoring systems, consumer awareness, and the disproportionate impact on developing countries are discussed. The study aims to support the development of effective public health policies and to promote greater consumer awareness regarding these food safety hazards.

Özet

Aflatoksinler ve pestisit kalıntıları, küresel gıda güvenliğini tehdit eden en önemli kimyasal kontaminantlar arasında yer almaktadır. Tarımsal üretimde verimliliği artırmak ve ürün kayıplarını azaltmak amacıyla yaygın olarak kullanılan pestisitler, yanlış veya yetersiz düzenlemelerle kullanıldığında ciddi sağlık sorunlarına yol açabilmektedir. Benzer şekilde, Aspergillus türleri tarafından sıcak ve nemli koşullarda üretilen sekonder metabolitler olan aflatoksinler, gıdalara bulaşarak özellikle karaciğer üzerinde toksik, mutajenik ve kanserojen etkilere neden olabilmektedir. Bu derlemede, gıdalarda aflatoksin ve pestisit kalıntılarının varlığı, tespit yöntemleri, yasal düzenlemeler ve halk sağlığı açısından oluşturdukları riskler güncel bilimsel veriler ışığında ele alınmaktadır. Ayrıca zayıf izleme sistemleri, sınırlı tüketici farkındalığı ve gelişmekte olan ülkelerin artan hassasiyeti gibi sorunlara da dikkat çekilmektedir. Çalışma, bu kritik gıda güvenliği tehditlerine ilişkin halk sağlığı politikalarının geliştirilmesine ve tüketici bilincinin artırılmasına katkı sağlamayı amaçlamaktadır.

🔖

Cite This Article

Başhan, U., Kaçar, S. (2025). Assessment of the Presence of Aflatoxins and Pesticides in Food and Their Public Health Risks. Erciyes Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü Fen Bilimleri Dergisi, Cilt: 41 Sayı: 3, 770–782. https://doi.org/10.65520/erciyesfen.1720375

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