Skip to main content

Study finds dangerous cancer-causing chemicals in meats cooked with burnt car tyres




A joint study by the African Centre of Excellence in Public Health and Toxicological Research (ACEPUTOR), University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, has revealed alarming levels of cancer-causing chemicals in meats singed using tyres.

Published in the journal Environmental Health Insights, the study found that meats singed with tyres contain high levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), particularly a harmful chemical called Benzo[a]pyrene, which is known to increase the risk of cancer.

Highest risk from tyre-singed meats

Led by Prosper Manu Abdulai from ACEPUTOR, the research involved testing meats singed with tyres, firewood, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in Ghana’s five largest cities: Kumasi, Accra, Koforidua, Tamale, and Ho.

The researchers collected 180 samples of cattle and goat meat and found that meats singed with tyres contained the highest levels of PAHs, with some exceeding regulatory limits set by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

“We did a health risk assessment, and we realised that kids and adults who take this meat, whether singed with firewood or tyres, are at serious risk of getting cancer,” Abdulai warned.

Children and older adults were identified as the most vulnerable groups exposed to these harmful substances.

Recommendations for safer alternatives

The study recommends the use of safer alternatives, such as LPG gas, for singeing meat. Among the tested fuel types, LPG demonstrated the lowest levels of PAHs, making it the preferred option for reducing the risk of exposure to these harmful chemicals.

The researchers also emphasised the urgent need for stricter regulations to prevent the use of tyres for meat singeing. “The stakeholders should have something to do at the abattoirs so that all of them will use the LPG,” Abdulai urged.

Call for Action

The study calls for:

Stricter regulations: Authorities are urged to impose heavy penalties for using tyres in meat preparation to protect public health.

Awareness campaigns: Educating stakeholders and the general public on the health risks associated with tyre-singed meats.

Promoting LPG usage: Encouraging the adoption of LPG as a safer singeing alternative to traditional methods like firewood and tyres.

A collaborative effort

The KNUST co-author of the study, Prof. Caleb Kesse Firempong, highlighted the importance of collaborative research in addressing public health concerns and urged policymakers to act swiftly to mitigate the risks posed by PAHs.

This ground-breaking study sheds light on a critical issue affecting public health and underscores the need for immediate interventions to safeguard consumers from exposure to dangerous chemicals in singed meats.

51Shares
facebook sharing button
whatsapp sharing button
twitter sharing button
sms sharing button
sharethis sharing button

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

DCE Distributes Farming Tools to Boost Agriculture in Twifo Atti Morkwa

 DCE Distributes Farming Tools to Boost Agriculture in Twifo Atti Morkwa The District Chief Executive (DCE) and Member of Parliament of Twifo Atti Morkwa, on behalf of His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, distributed farming tools, including boats and fertilizers, to local farmers. This initiative aims to enhance agricultural productivity and improve the livelihoods of farmers in the district. The DCE's efforts demonstrate the government's commitment to supporting the agricultural sector and promoting economic growth in the region.  He further added at the items giving to the farmers will be monitored by the agriculture director to make sure they are using it. Anyone who will cought by selling his or her tools will be handed over to the police custody  Farmers expressed gratitude to the President and the DCE for the timely intervention, which they believe will significantly impact their farming activities. This initiative is a testament to the government's efforts to promo...

Don't Wait for National Sanitation Day to Clean Your Compound" - DCE Urges Assembly Members

  *"Don't Wait for National Sanitation Day to Clean Your Compound" - DCE Urges Assembly Members* Today marks National Sanitation Day across Ghana, an initiative by President John Dramani Mahama. The Twifu Atti-Morkwa District Assembly, led by Hon. Isaac Kofi Yawson, organized a clean-up exercise at Twifu Mampong, the center of Mampong Area Council. Chiefs, pastors, opinion leaders, and officials from the Assembly participated in the event. During the exercise, residents of Twifu Mampong came out in large numbers to clear principal streets and gutters. Hon. Yawson expressed gratitude to participants for their overwhelming support and acknowledged the importance of putting aside political differences to focus on development. The DCE urged assembly members not to wait for National Sanitation Day to clean their compounds, emphasizing that cleanliness should be a daily routine to combat malaria and other diseases. "Clean-up exercises must be our daily routine, which can h...

ECOLINKS Supports Twifu Atti-Morkwa District with 1000 Coalpots*

  *ECOLINKS Supports Twifu Atti-Morkwa District with 1000 Coalpots* The District Chief Executive for Twifu Atti-Morkwa District, Hon. Isaac K. Yawson, has revealed that the foreign-based Non-Governmental Organization, ECOLINKS, has donated 1000 gyapa coalpots to residents of five communities in the district. The communities benefiting from the initiative are Akweikrom, Akloman, Akutuase, Asamoakrom/Ongwaso, and Bimpongegya, with each community receiving 200 coalpots. According to Hon. Yawson, the primary objective of this program is to help mitigate climate change in the district, region, and country as a whole. He attributed the adverse effects of climate change to human activities such as cutting down trees for firewood. Hon. Yawson expressed gratitude to ECOLINKS for their continued support, noting that this is not the first time the organization has made such a donation to the district. He credited his lobbying efforts for the successful acquisition of the coalpots. The Assembl...