Abstract

Heavy metal contents assessment of cowhide singed with firewood (Bamboo)

Author(s): Chike S.Okafor, Chukwuemeka E.Okeke, Patrick E.Omuku, N.C.Okafor

The concentrations of zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), and copper (Cu) were determined in various samples of cowhide. Butchers in Nigeria have been using firewood (bamboo) to singe cowhide and very fewmake use of traditional means of immersion in hot water to remove the furs of cowhide. This study analyzed such methods for the risk of heavy metal contamination and to know the best way to practice singeing of cowhides. The various samples of cowhides processed with firewood and hot water were analysed for heavy metal contents using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (FS 240 Varian, USA). The result of the study showed a significant increase (p<0.05) in some heavy metal concentrations (Zn, Pb, Cu) in cowhides singed with firewood compared to the traditional means of immersion in hot water. Although, the singed cowhide was observed to show a significant decrease in heavy metals after washing with water, not all the heavy metals are washed out with water. This study indicates that singeing with firewood (bamboo) can increase some of the metallic contents of cowhide. Thus, the singeing of cowhides with firewood should be discouraged as they might pose a health hazard to the consumers of such cowhide. Processing cowhide with hot distilled water is a better alternative.