[Trends of food poisonings caused by natural toxins in Japan, 1989-2011].
In order to reduce the health risk associated with food poisonings caused by natural toxins, it is necessary to implement risk management strategies based on previous poisoning data and risk factors. In present study, we statistically analyzed natural toxin food poisoning (NTFP) data published by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare from 1989 to 2010 in Japan and reviewed the trends of NTFP for each natural toxin hazard. Since 1989, the number of incidents of NTFP in each year has not been reduced. Prevention and control are needed to reduce the risk of NTFP. The major site for all hazards was "at home". This result suggested that consumer education is critically important to inform about NTFP occurrence, preventive measures and emergency treatments. Furthermore, countermeasures for NTFPs which have never occurred in the past in Japan should be considered, because of the increasing variety of imported foods and changes resulting from the inerease of sea temperature with global warming.
Division of Safety Information on Drug, Food and Chemicals, National Institute of Health Sciences, Tokyo, Japan. miou@nihs.go.jp
Miou
M
Toda
Chikako
C
Uneyama
Hajime
H
Toyofuku
Kaoru
K
Morikawa
D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008387:Marine Toxins / Q000506:poisoning; D009145:Mushroom Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology; D010947:Plants, Toxic / Q000506:poisoning; D012308:Risk Management; D013997:Time Factors; D014118:Toxins, Biological / Q000506:poisoning*
D008387:Marine Toxins; D014118:Toxins, Biological