ABSTRACT

Cow hide meat, commonly called Ponmo is a major source of protein for the urban population, but it could be susceptible to contamination by heavy metals, which pose a serious threat to human wellbeing due to their toxicity and chelating activity, hence the need to monitor their level in meat from time to time. This study was conducted to determine the concentrations of heavy metals (Iron, Zinc, Copper, Lead and Cadmium) in cow hide meat sold in Aduwawa market, Benin City, Edo State. Brown cow hide samples were bought from major retail outlets in the markets. The levels of the heavy metals in the cow hide were assayed using Atomic Absorbance Spectrophotometry (AAS). Results show that the concentration of Iron (Fe) was highest metal recorded while that of cadmium was the lowest. The order of the level of heavy metal concentration in the cow hide samples assessed are Fe > Zn > Cu > Pb > Cd. The mean concentration of Iron, Zinc, Copper, Lead and Cadmium in the cattle hide are 0.6407 ± 0.1311, 0.0483 ± 0.0148, 0.0437 ± 0.0134, 0.0110 ± 0.0056 and 0.0047 ± 0.0024 mg/kg respectively. Results from this study indicate that although the concentrations detected were minimal, heavy metal toxicity may result from long term consumption of cow hide from these study areas.