Heavy metal concentrations and health risk assessments in cow skin (ponmo) from three abattoirs along east-west road in Rivers State

Abstract

In this study, cowskin samples were purchased from three local abattoirs; Ishi-odu, Choba, and Rumuosi then sent to the laboratory to determine the levels of Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Nickel (Ni), and Arsenic (As). The heavy metal levels in the sample were determined using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) following standard methods and procedures while the health risks of cowskin consumption were calculated using the US EPA risk models (Estimated daily intake, EDI; Target Hazard Quotient, THQ; Hazard Index, HI). The analytical results showed that Lead, Chromium, and Arsenic levels were above WHO-permissible limits with mean values of 0.141- 0.171 mg/kg, 0.047-0.108 mg/kg, and 0.040-0.116 mg/kg respectively while the Cd and Ni levels were within WHO-permissible limits with mean values 0.01-0.005 mg/kg and 0.013-0.023 mg/kg. The ANOVA results showed that there was no statistical difference (p<0.05) in the mean values of Pb, Cr, and As among the three locations; in contrast, there are statistical differences (p<0.05) in the mean values of Cd and Ni among the three abattoirs. The computed EDI values were within tolerable daily intake limits while THQ and HI values were well below the benchmark value of 1.0 implying that there is no appreciable health risk from consuming cowskin sourced from the study areas. Nevertheless, the individual heavy metal levels in this study were of notable concentrations, it is optimal that cowskin consumers reduce their consumption frequencies to avoid the possibility of bioaccumulation and resultant toxicity from the total heavy metal burden.