Determination of the presence and concentration of heavy metal in cattle hides singed in Nsukka abattoir

Due to the health related problems associated with eating red meat, cattle hides also known as ponmo or kanda, have become a substitute for red meat in Nigeria which in turn have resulted in the increase demand for this product. To meet this demand, abattoir workers do not take time in processing these hides appropriately as different substances are used to fuel the wood to hasten the process of singeing. Unfortunately, these substance deposits some toxic metals into the hides, which is capable of causing harm to its consumers. This study aims at investigating the heavy metal contamination of the hides singed in Nsukka slaughter slab due to the various substances used to singe the hides. Samples of singed and unsinged cattle hides were collected from the abattoir and analysed for cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni) and lead (Pb) using Buck Scientific Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Results showed that the mean concentrations of Pb, Cd, Fe, Cu, and Ni in unsinged hides were 5.65±0.70, 1.93±0.39, 9.88±1.11, 10.45±1.19 and 1.95±0.12 mg/kg, respectively. In singed hides, the mean concentrations of Pb, Cd, Fe, Cu, and Ni were 4.36±0.79, 1.48±0.28, 21.60±3.52, 12.77±1.06 and 2.64±0.21 mg/kg, respectively. The mean concentrations of the metals with the exception of Cu in both unsinged and singed hides were above the maximum permissible level set by World Health organization (WHO) and European Commission. The results of this study proved that the environment and singeing processes may be responsible for the heavy metal contamination of hides in Nsukka abattoir.