'We are exposed to various toxins every day'.

KARACHI -- Every day we are exposed to various toxins which cause various health problems. The air we breathe, the food we eat and the water we drink may have a toxic effect on our body. Even drug overdose may cause health hazards including hepatic and renal failure.

This was stated by Professor Dr Syed Ehteshamul Haque, director of M.A.H. Qadri Biological Research Centre and department of botany, University of Karachi, at a seminar on 'Toxins and Human Health: The Impact of Drugs' Overdose, Pesticides, Fungal and Industrial Toxins on Human Health', held at the Botany Auditorium.

He said that a toxic substance could be poisonous or cause health effects on the human body. 'Our food contains pesticide residues; it may be contaminated with microbial toxins, including mycotoxins,' he added.

Food, feed and agricultural products contaminated with mycotoxins had emerged as an issue of serious concern as those toxic substances might cause different types of poisoning and consequently, diverse health problems in both animals and humans.

These secondary metabolites were produced by toxigenic fungi which may grow on numerous foodstuffs such as cereals, dried fruits, nuts and spices. They may occur either before or after harvest, during storage, on/in the food itself often under warm, damp and humid conditions.

He informed the audience that the industrial revolution had moved the manufacturing of goods from hand production methods to machines, small shops and homes to large factories.

This shift brought about changes in culture as people moved from rural areas to big cities in order to work, but that massive industrialisation was also creating problems for the environment, he observed.

Many industries released a large amount of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, organic compounds and chemicals into the air resulting in depletion of the quality of air, he said, adding that...