Aflatoxins presence and agrochemicals in stored temporary corn: security foods´s risks in Tlaxcala state, Mexico

Abstract

The corn production looks affected by several climatics variables (drought, rain excess, etc)., as well as by different microorganisms (such as Aspergillus, aflatoxins producers), which are usually fought through certain agrochemicals that collaterally can affect the environment and the people`s health. For this reason, the objective of this work was to establish a relation between the climatic variability, agrochemical use and aflatoxins presence in the corn storage systems, factors that in Tlaxcala state has not been previously analyzed. This research, cross sectional analytical type, was developed during May- December 2018. The municipalities selected were included according to the following criteria: 1) number of temporary corn producers, 2) corn production in tons and 3) average corn production during 2001 – 2017. The data was obtained from the agri-food and fisheries information system (SIAP). The technique used was the poll, while the sampling used was the incidental type. The statistical analysis of the risk factors was made under the criteria for qualitative variables with the Rho Spearman test, in the software SPSS 21 version. The results show that the 49% of farmers are between 61 and 68 years old, and in average the 91% use some kind of agrochemical. Likewise, and even though the 77% sow more than 2 hectares, only the 47% harvest in average 2 tons in total. Equally the 91% of the corn is for family consumption; the 64% of the farmers store their grains in open storages or barns, though the sanitation conditions are deficient in 75% of the cases.  In general, the corn production has risks in the harmlessness by the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers, as well as deficient conditions in the storage systems. In fact, the 100% of the corn samples turned out contaminated by aflatoxins, though within permissible levels by the NOM-187-SSA1/SCFI-2002. The use of agrochemicals showed a statistically significant association with the temporary corn production, except in Tlaxco. The aflatoxins presence is a constant in all the municipalities, so it doesn`t exist harmlessness in the stored corn. This factors represent risks for the food safety in the principles of accessibility-supply and harmlessness.