Hypothesis: plant and fungal biocides, copper and Indian childhood liver disease.

Hepatic copper accumulation is characteristic of Indian childhood cirrhosis (ICC) but in experimental animals causes only modest liver damage. Plant and fungal biocidal agents may be hepatotoxic, may increase hepatic copper concentration, and may be secreted in milk of lactating animals. Crotalaria species, Parthenium hysterophorus and Aspergillus flavus are possible contaminants of animal feeds in rural India, and we hypothesise that their products may be synergistic with copper in causing ICC.