Determination Of Levels Of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons On Singed Cowhide (Ponmo) Anti Charcoal Grilled Meat (Suya)

ABSTRACT

Smoking and grilling when carried out with traditional methods involving direct contact with wood combustion fumes, is responsible for high contamination levels of polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons(PAHs). The aim of this work was to determine the PAHs content of different smoked singed cowhides and charcoal grilled meat (suya) product commonly consumed in Nigeria. A rapid method involving oven drying and simultaneous extraction using soxhiet extractor and dichloromethane (DCM) as solvent and gas chromatogaphy(flame ionization detection) was employed. Samples that was grilled using charcoal(suya) were contaminated with naphthalene (9260.tg/kg), acenaphthylene (9920igIkg), and flouren (25656.gIkg). The Ten (10) PAHs found in the singed cowhides were however, below instrument detection limit as a result of washing because in charcoal grilled meat (suya) sample washing were not employed after grilling.