What does mycotoxin mean?
A mycotoxin is a poisonous chemical compound produced by a fungus or mold. These compounds can develop in crops, stored grains, foods, and animal feed, especially under conditions that favor fungal growth, such as warmth and humidity. Humans and animals may be exposed by eating contaminated products, and the effects range from acute poisoning to longer-term health problems depending on the toxin, the dose, and the duration of exposure. The term is used in microbiology, agriculture, veterinary medicine, toxicology, and food safety. It is more precise than the general word toxin because it identifies the source of the poisonous substance as a fungus or mold. A single mold species can produce several different mycotoxins, and the presence of one compound does not necessarily establish the presence of another. Testing therefore often identifies specific toxins and measures their concentrations rather than merely confirming that fungal contamination has occurred.
nounA toxic chemical compound produced by certain fungi or molds, often found in contaminated food or feed. Mycotoxins can cause illness or poisoning in humans and animals when they are consumed in sufficient amounts.
- A poisonous chemical compound produced by a fungus or mold, especially one that may contaminate food, feed, or other biological materials.
"The laboratory detected dangerous levels of mycotoxins in the stored grain."
"Long-term exposure to mycotoxins in contaminated food can damage the liver."
"Agricultural researchers monitor stored crops for mycotoxins produced by storage molds."
Use the plural when referring to multiple toxic compounds, distinct toxin types, or several compounds detected in a sample.
"Testing showed that the sample contained mycotoxins at levels exceeding the safety limit."
Aflatoxin, one of the best-known mycotoxins, is produced by Aspergillus molds and can contaminate crops such as maize and peanuts.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
Related word forms
How mycotoxin is actually used
Usually used in technical, scientific, agricultural, food-safety, or medical contexts. It is primarily a formal and specialist term, although public-health and food-safety reports use it regularly.
Easily confused with mycotoxin
A toxin is any poisonous substance, whereas a mycotoxin specifically refers to a poisonous compound produced by a fungus or mold.
Mycosis is an infection caused by fungi, while a mycotoxin is a poisonous substance produced by fungi rather than the infection itself.