**5. Conclusion**

The problem posed by mycotoxin contamination of foodstuff especially in warm humid tropical environment has call for great interest in research in this area. For a better control and alleviation of mycotoxin problems in food it is important that importing nation adapts policies that ensures that the permitted levels of mycotoxin is maintained to an acceptable level of consumer protection. Efforts are in progress to implement these techniques in areas of high aflatoxin contamination in the hope of reducing the incidence of liver cancer. Developing nation needs to work on prevention strategies from mycotoxin through a partnership scheme. This can be achieved through a better knowledge of the role of mycotoxins in the epidemiology of human disease; a better understanding of the metabolism and toxicity of mycotoxins in animals and humans. There is also the need to understand the aetiology of mould and mycotoxin production in the field and the development of detoxification procedures which afford a safe product. In order to foster and intensify research in mycotoxin there is the need for continuous studies in developing a rapid simple, cost effective mycotoxin analysis method which can be used in sub-saharan and developing countries. There is also the need to put in place simple in vitro test for both acute and chronic toxicity and biomarkers for the detection of the exposure of individuals to mycotoxins and for the detection of immunotoxicity.

Continuous analyses of the combined epidemiological data from such studies indicate that high-level intake of aflatoxin in combination with such other diseases as hepatitis is associated with an increased rate of liver cancer. Despite these uncertainties about the role of aflatoxins in human cancer, efforts to minimize human exposures continue. There are well-established methods for harvesting, drying, and storing crops that are effective in the control of fungal contamination and aflatoxin production.
