Journal Article

Incidence and Types of Fungal Contaminations of Some Locally Produced Cigarette Tobacco Sold in Niger State

Abstract

Cigarette smoking is a social behavior still practiced in Niger State. Reports have shown that some toxic fungi have been isolated from some cigarette tobacco. This research was therefore aimed at investigating the incidence and type of fungal contamination of locally produced cigarette tobacco sold and consumed in Niger State. Twenty-one different brands of cigarettes produced in Nigeria were obtained from supermarkets in Lapai and Minna in Niger State, Nigeria. The cigarette tobacco was cultured on potato dextrose agar and observed for fungal growth for 72 hours. Isolates of the fungi were sub-cultured on fresh media until pure cultures were obtained. The pure isolates were identified morphologically. The most prevalent genera isolated from the cigarette samples was the Aspergillus. Five different fungi; Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus nidulans and Chrysonilia sitophila were isolated and identified from the cigarette tobacco, with A. fumigatus being the dominant fungal contaminants of the cigarette tobacco. The presence of these fungi in the locally produced cigarette tobacco suggests another risk factor associated with cigarette smoking, as some of these fungi are known to produce very toxic secondary metabolites, which are not combusted by smoking and are harmful to human health.

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