Toxic Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) Associated With The Use of Tyre-Derived Fuel (TDF) in the De-Furring of Small Ruminants at the Gwagwalada, Municipal Abattoir, Abuja, Nigeria

Synthetic rubber tyres contain significant concentration of toxic polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) which become air borne when tyres are burnt. Toxic emissions of numerous carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic chemicals are also released to the air. The use of tyre derived fuel (TDF) to de-fur small ruminants is a common practice in Gwagwalada Municipal abattoir, Abuja, Nigeria. The study was conducted to determine the impact of such practices on the human population. A self completed and well structured close ended questionnaire were administered to respondents randomly selected among abattoir workers and residence of the neighborhood. The questionnaire was pretested for validity and was of two sections namely, the demographic and the general sections. The data were presented in tables using frequencies and percentages. Fifty eight of the total 80 questionnaires distributed were returned as valid of which 44 (75.9 %) were males and 14 (24.1 %) females. According to age brackets, 15 (25.9 %) of the respondents were between 18 25 years, 30 51.7 %) were between 26 40 years while 13 (22.4 %) were between 41 and above. Fifty one of the respondents agreed to have fallen sick and that sickness may not be unconnected to the smoke and smell from the abattoir. Forty nine of the respondents regretted living very close to the abattoir. De-furring small ruminants with TDF is very hazardous with serious public health implications and should be stopped. Situating abattoirs close to residential areas should be discouraged as it poses health danger to residents.