Consequences of Food toxins

The consequences of food toxins are numerous! This is because different food toxins results in a different symptoms and condition. However, i've found out that they are several symptoms that are similiar. These are symptoms such as fever, vomiting , diarrhea, respiratory problems and muscle degeneration. Well, it's no suprise that vomiting and having diarrhea is a symptom of food toxin ingestion because we relate these symptoms into our daily lifes. For example, if someone were to have serious diarrhea or nausea after eating a particular food, we would relate them to having food poisoning.

Many of these symptoms, if left untreated, will lead to serious consequences or even some cases, death.



Here are some common food toxins that are produced by bacteria, their symptoms and consequences are stated as follow

Botulinum toxin – The symptoms of botulinum toxins are vision problems, difficulty with speech and swallowing, drooping eye lids, dry mouth, and muscle weakness.

If left untreated, airway obstruction and paralysis of respiratory muscles may occur, this will result in death. [1]

Emetic toxin – The symptoms of emetic toxin includes nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Fatalities are rare as affected individuals recovers within 12~24 hours.[2]


Shiga toxins - The symptoms of shiga toxins are abdominal cramps, watery or bloody diarrhea, vomiting and fever.

About 10% of individuals affected with shiga toxins develops further complications such as hemorrhagic colitis, Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), or postdiarrheal thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) [3]

Enterotoxins – The symptoms of enterotoxins are fever, chills, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pains, shortness of breath and dry cough.

Enterotoxins are not consider lethal. However, in some cases, it can cause death by dilation of blood vessels which in turn lowers the blood pressure. Enterotoxins are also known to cause death by inducing respiratory failure. [4]


Mycotoxins are also significant in contributing to food toxins. However due to the large number of common mycotoxins, im only able to list down the common symptoms associated with ingesting these toxins.

The common symptoms of Mycotoxins ingestion are
• Weight loss
• Anxiety (nervous disorders)
• Diarrhea
• Skin toxicity
• Dermatitis,
• Persistent cold and flu-like symptoms
• Burning sore throat,
• Headaches
• Severe fatigue[5] [6]





[1] Botulinum Toxin As A Potential Weapon
http://www.uos.harvard.edu/ehs/biosafety/botulinum.shtml (accessed 12/7/08)

[2] Bacillus cereus
http://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/science/data-sheets/bacillus-cereus.pdf (accessed 12/7/08)

[3] Shiga Toxin-producing Escherichia coli Fact Sheet
http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/dc/Epidemiology/stec_fs.html (accessed 12/7/08)

[4] Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B
http://www.cbwinfo.com/Biological/Toxins/SEB.html (accessed 12/7/08)

[5]
Chapter 34, Trichothecene Mycotoxins
http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/medaspec/Ch-34electrv699.pdf (accessed 12/7/08)

[6] Health Effects of Mycotoxins
http://www.grayenvironmental.com/health_effects_of_mycotoxins.htm (accessed 12/7/08)

Allowable daily intake of food toxins

I've managed to find allowable daily intake[ADI] of mycotoxins, i've combined my research together with lecia's research. The ADI of various toxins can be found at this site. It's a european food regulation site

http://www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/36/2004_food_table_bact.pdf

Suprisingly, it is much harder to find established report on the ADI of food toxins synthezised by bacteria commonly found in food. However, i could find the Median lethal dose(LD50) of these toxins, i'll put it up on the report until i manage to find the ADI. The lethal dosage basically stands for the dosage to ingest that will lead to death.

This is one of the site i used to find the median lethal dosage of several bacteria

http://www.itg.be/itg/DistanceLearning/LectureNotesVandenEndenE/48_Mycotoxinsp2.htm