According to a study by the University of Michigan, the amount of toxins produced by a fungus in corn will increase over the next few years due to global warming.
According to a study published in Environmental Research Letters last April, more than 89.5% of counties in 15 US states will see an increase in aflatoxin levels between 2031 and 2040.
Aflatoxin is a carcinogenic toxin produced by two fungi, Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus, that commonly grow near food crops. They enter corn through pollen tubes or through insect damage.
Aflatoxins are the most common natural liver carcinogen. According to the study, chronic exposure levels can interfere with a child’s growth and nutrition.
If the study’s predictions are accurate, the risk of aflatoxin contamination will increase so significantly that clean corn could be in short supply. This could very quickly become a global problem, as the US Corn Belt is a major supplier of the crop to the world.
Yes, climate change is the main culprit behind the projected increase in aflatoxin levels.