Potentially Toxic Substances in Singed and Unsinged Cow Skin from Selected Abattoirs Consumed in Port Harcourt Metropolis

Abstract

Singed and unsinged cow skin (pelts), from four slaughter houses (Ishiodu, Eliozu, Rumuosi, and Rumuodumaya); sold and consumed in Portharcourt, Rivers State city - were evaluated for the concentration of PAHs, TPH and heavy-metals, using GC/FID and atomic absorption spectrophotometer respectively and the outcomes were then exposed to statistical examination (Spearman connection coefficient framework and One-Way ANOVA) to decide critical distinction between the singed and unsinged samples utilizing SPSS programming bundle (form 20.0). The total PAHs and TPH of singed cattle pelts were 0.023, 0.031, 0.035, and 0.035 mg/kg; 1.63, 2.16, 2.52, and 2.62 mg/kg for Ishiodu, Eliozu, Rumuosi, and Rumuodumaya slaughter houses respectively, of which the unsinged pelts and edible-flesh were pointedly (p<0.05) higher than the singed samples. The Fe, Cu, Cd, Zn, Cr, Pb contents were pointedly beyond the passable boundary while Aluminum, Arsenic, and BTEX were not detected. Mercury (Hg) was essentially not identified in singed samples purchased from the slaughter houses with the exclusion of Rumuodumaya (at 0.01mg/kg). The processing procedures aided with certain environmental activities impact negatively on the nutritional content of foods, thus placing consumers at potential wellbeing hazard.