Effect of different dehairing methods on the concentrations of some heavy metals in cow tail sold in Minna Abattoir

Heavy metals are a group of heterogeneous elements that bioacumulate in tissues causing hazardous effects on livestock and human health. In the present study, effect of different dehairing methods on the concentration of some heavy metals in cow tail sold in Minna abattoir were evaluated. Three fresh cow tails were obtained Bosso abattoir in Minna, Niger state Nigeria. Each cow tail was divided into three portions and was dehaired using fire wood, scrap tyres and scalding method respectively.  Each of the processed cow tail were separated into the skin, meat, and bones and analysed for heavy metals (arsenic, lead, cadmium, mercury and chromium) using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Heavy metals analysed in all the samples were above the permissible limit. Furthermore, mercury was significantly (p<0.05) higher in bones than in meat and skin of cow tail under the three processing methods. The concentration of chromium was higher in skin of cow tail processed with fire wood. The lead concentration was significantly (p<0.05) higher in meat and skin of cow tail processed with scrap tyre. There were no significant differences (p>0.05) in arsenic and cadmium concentration in all cow tail parts among the three dehairing method employed. Cow-tail de-hairing methods enhanced the heavy metal accumulations in the skin, meat and bone contents of cow tail. Continuous consumption of these cow tail pats could become a serious human health threat.