Determination Of Heavy Metal Concentration In Singed Cattle Skin (Ponmo) From Three Major Abattoirs In Umuahia Metropolis

ABSTRACT

 Cowhides 'ponmo' flamed with tyre and firewood were purchased from three abattoirs in Umuahia and Aba metropolis. Their heavy metal contents of lead, cadmium, chromium, zinc, copper and Nickel were determined before and after boiling. There was significant differences in the levels of these metals with the exception of chromium and Nickel. The highest levels of Cu (7.55mg.kg 1 ), Zn (13.76mg.kg 1 ) Fe (68.65mg.kg') were found in hides processed with tyre while Cd (2.40mg.kg4) and Pb (0.7ling.kg ) content were the highest in hides processed with firewood. However, the levels of chromium and nickel were found to be the same in all the :rnples (0.olmg.kg'). The lowest levels of these heavy metals were usually found in hides processed through the traditional method of boiling in water fbllowed by shaving. In Drximate analysis, the samples had the compositions ranging from moisture (3.12-20.01%), ash (0.11-4.17%), fat (0.21-0.62%), protein (6.06-8.68%), carbohydrate (0.14.0.7l%) and crude fibre (34.43-40.15%). The result of sensory evaluation of the different quality attributes based on the nine point hedonic scale showed that sample 665 @onmo processed with firewood) was significantly higher in all the sensoiy characteristics than sample 524 (ponmo processed with tyre) and sample 482 (ponmo processed through the traditional method of boiling in water followed by shaving).