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Name: Aflatoxin B1
Chemical Formula: C17H12O6
Appearance: Pale yellow powder
CAS Number: 1162-65-8
Usage: Often found as a contaminant in crops such as corn, peanuts, and cottonseed, showing up most often in environments with high humidity or poor storage conditions.
Risk: Recognized as one of the most potent natural carcinogens, affecting humans and animals.
Symptoms: Acute poisoning can trigger liver damage, jaundice, vomiting, and sometimes death. Long-term effects include cancer risk and immune system suppression.
Routes of Exposure: Skin contact, inhalation, ingestion.
Target Organs: Liver and kidneys take the brunt of exposure.
Main Ingredient: Aflatoxin B1, typically found at more than 98% purity in laboratory samples.
Impurities: Possible trace levels of other aflatoxins or fungal byproducts, often seen in contaminated foodstuffs.
Inhalation: Move the affected person to fresh air and seek medical assistance. Respiratory symptoms like coughing or shortness of breath need a doctor’s attention — aflatoxins can do real damage if they get into lungs.
Skin Contact: Wash thoroughly with soap and water, since absorption through skin can contribute to toxicity, especially after prolonged contact.
Eye Contact: Flush with clean water for at least 15 minutes, then seek medical attention.
Ingestion: Do not induce vomiting. Rinse mouth and contact a poison control center or physician — this toxin is fast-acting and professional care matters.
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Use water spray, foam, or dry chemical. Avoid high-pressure water streams, as these can spread contaminated material.
Hazardous Combustion Products: Toxic fumes and smoke containing carbon oxides and possibly the parent toxin itself.
Protective Equipment: Firefighters should gear up with self-contained breathing apparatus and protective clothing to avoid exposure to toxic residues in smoke.
Personal Precautions: Keep skin and eyes covered, and never handle unknown powders bare-handed. Avoid breathing dust.
Containment: Avoid spreading dust. Use damp disposable towels or HEPA-filtered vacuums to clean up. Never sweep dry.
Environmental Precautions: Aflatoxin B1 sticks around in the environment and can contaminate water or animal feed, making careful cleanup essential.
Handling: Only handle this substance inside a chemical fume hood or biosafety cabinet. Double-check gloves and respirators for proper fit before use. Never eat, drink, or smoke where aflatoxin could be present.
Storage: Lock it up in sealed, labeled containers, far from food, feed, and unrelated chemicals. Cool, dry, and dark locations reduce decomposition and the chance of exposure.
Engineering Controls: Run local exhaust ventilation at workstations and use laboratory hoods. High-efficiency filtration helps catch even tiny particles.
Personal Protection: Gloves, lab coats, and goggles protect against splashes and contact. Respiratory protection becomes important any time powder or dust risk rises, especially in cleanup.
Exposure Limits: There’s no universally agreed threshold for ‘safe’ human exposure. Regulatory agencies aim for the lowest possible contamination in foods—often under a few parts per billion.
State: Powder or crystalline solid.
Color: Usually pale yellow.
Solubility: Insoluble in water; soluble in organic solvents such as chloroform and methanol.
Odor: Odorless under normal use.
Melting Point: Around 268°C.
Stability: Stable under proper conditions but light, heat, and humidity can degrade it and sometimes make it less toxic — but breakdown products aren’t always harmless.
Stability: Stable if kept cool, dry, and covered.
Reactivity: Reacts with strong oxidizers. Degrades with exposure to sunlight and high temperatures.
Dangerous Decomposition: Forms toxic fumes on burning or decomposition.
Acute Toxicity: Highly toxic and fast-acting, especially in children and livestock. Oral LD50 in rats is about 0.5-10 mg/kg.
Chronic Effects: Strong associations with liver cancer in humans and animals. Chronic exposure weakens the immune system, may cause birth defects, and can contribute to malnutrition from chronic liver damage.
Carcinogenicity: Classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
Persistence: Aflatoxin B1 stays in soils and water for long periods, especially in the absence of sunlight.
Bioaccumulation: Buildup can occur in food webs, affecting livestock, wild animals, and humans who consume contaminated products.
Environmental Impact: Crop contamination threatens food security and increases risk for both local consumers and global trade.
Disposal Method: Destroy using controlled incineration at high temperatures or treat with chemicals that break down the toxin, always in accordance with local and national regulations.
Waste Disposal Issues: Dumping in landfills or water sources can spread contamination. Only professionals using secured, compliant disposal methods should handle this substance.
Packing: Seal in leak-tight, shatterproof containers. Mark with clear hazard labels.
Transport Risks: Spills or leaks can put handlers at risk and lead to environmental contamination.
Special Instructions: Move only small quantities at a time and inform all handlers of the hazards before shipment. Avoid delays and improper storage during transit.
Status: Strictly regulated as a hazardous substance due to its carcinogenicity and persistent risks in almost every country.
Food Safety Laws: Limits for aflatoxin contamination in food are set very low by agencies like the FDA, EU, and Codex Alimentarius.
Worker Protection: OSHA and other agencies mandate strong controls and safety training in workplaces with aflatoxin risk.
