文摘
In Brazil, the southern region has the highest incidence of esophageal cancer and also the highestproduction and consumption of corn (Zea mays) products. Corn samples intended for humanconsumption from the western, northern, and southern regions of the state of Santa Catarina, southernBrazil, had mean total fumonisin B (B1, B2, and B3) levels of 3.2, 3.4, and 1.7 mg/kg, respectively.Fusarium verticillioides, the predominant fungus in the corn samples, had mean incidences (percentof kernels infected) of 14, 11, and 18% for the three regions, respectively. Additional corn samplesintended for animal feed from the southern region had a mean total fumonisin level of 1.5 mg/kg anda mean F. verticillioides incidence of 10%. The fumonisin levels in corn from the state of SantaCatarina, Brazil, were similar to the high levels determined in other high esophageal cancer incidenceregions of the world.Keywords: Fumonisin; Fusarium verticillioides; corn (Zea mays); Brazil; esophageal cancer