Residual Levels of Heavy Metal Contaminants in Cattle Hides Singed with Scrap Tyre and Firewood Fuel Sources: a Comparative Study in the Wa Municipality of Ghana

The present study compared the residual levels of heavy metals in cattle hides obtained from the Wa Municipal abattoir (in the Upper West Region of Ghana) singed using scrap tyres and firewood as fuel sources. Heavy metals of interest included As, Cu, Fe, Pb and Cd. Residual levels of these metals were measured by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer AA 220. Scrap tyre singed hides in general recorded the highest concentrations of As, Cu, Fe, Pb and Cd than firewood singed hides and unsinged hides. Scrap tyre singed hides recorded significant increments in metal levels in the range of 312.50 - 811.11 %, 221.95 - 599.56 %, 236.21 - 366.57 %, 1408.82 - 1600.00 % and 1275.00 - 2875.00 % respectively for As, Cu, Fe, Pb and Cd. Firewood singed hides similarly recorded considerable increments in metal levels ranging from122.22 - 375.00 %, 202.44 - 280.63 %, 120.44 - 302.51 %, 1251.43 - 1361.73 % and 462.50 - 1837.50 % respectively for As, Cu, Fe, Pb and Cd. As, Pb and Cd maximum and minimum levels recorded for scrap tyre singed hides, firewood singed hides and unsinged hides all exceeded respective maximum permissible limits of 0.05 mg/kg, 0.1 mg/kg and 0.05 mg/kg. Cu and Fe maximum levels were below the respective maximum permissible thresholds of 20 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg. The present study essentially brought to bear the unwholesome state of cattle hides being consumed within the Wa Municipality of the Upper West Region of Ghana