Health Alert: Consuming meats singed with car tyres can harm you

A research conducted by six Scientists has established health hazards associated with consuming meats that are singed with tyres in Ghana.

In a study, which was conducted in five cities -Kumasi, Accra, Koforidua, Tamale and Ho – the team gauged the concentration of a chemical called Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and the carcinogenic risks of cattle and goat meats singed with either firewood, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) or tyres.

After analysing the samples, collected mainly from abattoirs in these aforementioned towns at Clinical Analysis Laboratory (Can-Lab) at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), they established that among all the sources of fuels used to singe animal hide, tyre has alarming carcinogenic elements than the rest.

The team discovered that tyre-singed meats exhibited Benzo[a]pyrene, a highly carcinogenic chemical, which is formed during combustion.

“Tyre-singed meats exhibit significantly higher PAHs concentrations (P?=?.01304) compared to those singed with firewood and LPG.

“Benzo[a]pyrene was the predominant PAH in tyre-singed cattle and goat meats, with concentrations of 23.1?mg/kg and 12.16?mg/kg, respectively”, the study revealed.

The study further explained that having singed the meats with Liquefied Petroleum Gas, Firewood and Tyres respectively, it attempted to wash it but tyre-singed meat recorded alarming concentration  than other fuels, raising concerns about health implications.

“Washing singed meats reduced PAH levels, yet tyre-singed samples retained higher and dangerous concentrations of carcinogenic elements than those singed with other fuels.”

The Researchers disclosed that double scientific tests, namely Analysis of Variance(ANOVA), a statistical test used to analyse the difference between the means of more than two groups and Tukey HSD test, which is used to test differences among samples showed greater effect of meat singed with tyre.

“Statistical analysis using ANOVA confirmed a significant effect of fuel type on PAH16 concentrations (P?=?.01304). The Tukey HSD test indicated a significant difference between LPG and tyre (P?=?.0105).

The study further disclosed that estimated daily intake (EDI), the amount of a substance, like nutrients or contaminants that a person is expected to consume daily, which is often used for assessing potential health risks or determine dietary needs, shows worrying risk associated with tyre-singed meats.

“Estimated daily intake (EDI) calculations highlighted potential health risks, particularly from tyre-singed meats, which exceeded regulatory limits set by health authorities.

The research was conducted by Prosper Manu Abdulai, Chika Ossai, Anthoneth Ndidi Ezejiofor, Chiara Frazzoli, Joaquim Rovira,Osazuwa Clinton Ekhator, Caleb Kesse Frempong and Orish Ebere Orisakwe  and  published in the Sage Journal.

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