The Hidden Menace of Aspergillus Niger: Unveiling the Fungal Contamination of Onion Peels and Its Devastating Consequences for Asthma Patients
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Aspergillus niger represents a significant yet underestimated threat to public health, particularly through its widespread contamination of onion peels and subsequent impact on asthma patients. This comprehensive review examines the pathophysiology, epidemiology, and clinical implications of A. niger exposure in vulnerable populations. The ubiquitous nature of this black mold species in agricultural environments, combined with its potent allergenic and mycotoxigenic properties, creates a perfect storm for respiratory complications in asthmatic individuals. Through systematic analysis of current literature, this review demonstrates how occupational and domestic exposure to contaminated onion peels can trigger severe respiratory symptoms, including hypersensitivity pneumonitis, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, and acute asthma exacerbations. The mechanisms underlying these pathological responses involve complex immunological cascades, mycotoxin-induced tissue damage, and airway hyperresponsiveness. Evidence suggests that even minimal exposure to A. niger spores from contaminated onion peels can precipitate life-threatening respiratory crises in susceptible individuals. This review calls for enhanced awareness, improved detection methods, and comprehensive prevention strategies to protect asthma patients from this hidden environmental hazard.
Author: Ankita Singh1, Mukti Oraon1, Priya Kumari1, Nirjala Kumari1, Ananya Mishra1, Indu Sharma1, Bharti Kumari1, Parinika Kumari1, Rohit Kumar1, Sumit Oraon1, Abhinav Keshri1, Anuj Kumar Rajak1, Anjali Prasad1, Pushpa Kumari1, Suman Roy2, Biswasi Topno2, Nikhil Kumar Sharma2, Arnab Roy*1
Language: English
Subfield: Physiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7081629559
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